\V
!
S
SCHOOL
LEI R T
CHARLES StRGARO. ARTIST
LESSONS FROM. THE LIFE OF
CHRIST
,
SENTRA
-
146:1
:
145,
THIRD QUA 'R
LA..), C . \AAv CCe.t.i'
THE BLESSING OF DAILY STUDY
"With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Isa. 12:3.
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, 0 Lord
God of hosts." Jer. 15:16.
"As a means of intellectual training, the opportunities of the Sabbath are
invaluable. Let the Sabbath-school lesson be learned, not by a hasty glance at •
the lesson scripture on .Sabbath morning, but by careful study for the next
week on Sabbath afternoon, with daily review or illustration during the week.
Thus the lesson will become fixed in the memory, a treasure never to be
wholly
lost."—Education,
pages 251, 252.
"Every day some portion of time should be appropriated to the study of
the lessons, not merely in learning to mechanically repeat the words, while
the mind does not comprehend the meaning; but to go to the very founda-
tion, and become familiar with what is brought out in the
lesson."—Counsels
on Sabbath Sc
-
hool Work,
page 53.
My Daily Lesson Study Pledge
As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge of the Scriptures, I
pledge myself to the careful and prayerful study of some portion of my Sab-
bath-school lesson each day of the week.
Name
LESSON TITLES FOR THE QUARTER
1.
God With Us.
2.
The Reception of Jesus.
3.
Early Life of Jesus; The Voice
in the Wilderness.
4.
The Baptism and Temptation
of Jesus.
5.
The Early Events of Public
Ministry.
6.
Christ a Personal Worker.
7.
The Baptist's Death; Jesus'
Ministry in Galilee.
8.
Calling the Twelve.
9.
Commission and Witness of
the Apostles.
to. The Sermon on the Mount.
II. Christ and the Sabbath.
12.
Vain Traditions Refuted.
13.
The Great Confession Confirmed.
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, No. 245, July-September, 1956. 15 cents a single copy, 50 cents
a year, in U.S.A. and Canada; 15 cents a single copy, 60 cents a year to all other countries. Published
in the U.S.A. by Pacific Press Publishing Association (a corporation of S.D.A.), Mountain View,
California. Entered as second-class matter Oct. 13, 1904, at the post office in Mountain View, Califor-
nia, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage
provided for in Section
1103, Act of Oct. 3, 1917, and authorized Sept. 18, 1918.
When a change
of
address is desired, please be sure to send both old and new addresses.
Copyright, 1956, by Pacific Press Publishing Association
Printed in U.S.A.
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF CHRIST
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
"Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we
know that God is acquainted with our
trials, and sympathizes with our griefs.
Every son and daughter of Adam may
understand that our Creator is the friend
of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace,
every promise of joy, every deed of love,
every divine attraction presented in the
Saviour's life on earth, we see 'God with
us.'
"—The Desire of Ages,
page 24.
"It would be well for us to spend a
thoughtful hour each day in contempla-
tion of <the life of Christ."—/bid., p. 83.
. —
Lesson 1, for July 7, 1956
God With Us
LESSON SCRIPTURES:
Matt.
1:18-25; Luke 1:5-35; 2:1-7.
MEMORY VERSE: "They shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted
is,
God with us." Matt. 1:23.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 19-44. Sabbath School Lesson Helps in
"Review and Herald" of June 21; "The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commen-
tary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check
Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
❑
Monday: Ques. 5-7.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 8-10.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 11-14.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
❑
Lesson Outline:
I. The Fullness of Time
1.
When the plan of salvation was
laid. Rom. 16:25.
2.
In due time. Rom. 5:6; Gal. 4:4.
3.
Conditions in Israel. Micah 3:9-11;
Matt. 23:23-33.
4.
Condition of the heathen. world.
Rom. 1:22-31.
II. The Heavenly Messenger
5.
Announcement to Zacharias. Luke
1:11-17.
6.
Announcement to Mary. Luke
1:26-31,
,
38.
7.
Announcement to Joseph. Matt.
1:18-21.
f
3
]
III. Messianic Prophecies and Their
Fulfillment
8.
The seed of David. 2 Sam. 7:12,
13, 16; Ps. 89:35-37; Luke
1:32, 33.
9.
The place of Christ's birth. Micah
5:2 ; Luke 2:1-5, 11.
10.
The manner of His birth. Isa.
7:14; Matt. 1:22, 23.
IV. The Incarnation
11.
The birth of Jesus. Luke 2:6, 7.
12.
The Word made flesh. John
1:1, 14; Heb. 2:14-18.
13.
Heaven's supreme gift. John
3:16; 1 John 4:14.
14.
Forever with us. Isa. 9:7; Rev.
21:3.
THE LESSON
The Fullness of Time
1.
When was the plan of salvation
laid? In whom is it centered? Rom.
16:25. Compare Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:
18-20.
NorE.—"The plan for our redemption
was not an afterthought, a plan formulated
after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation
of 'the mystery which hath been kept in
silence since times eternal.' . . . It was an
unfolding of the principles that from eter-
nal ages have been the foundation of
God's throne. From the beginning, God
and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan,
and of the fall of man through the decep-
tive power of the apostate. God did not
ordain that sin should exist, but He fore-
saw its existence, and made provision to
meet the terrible emergency."—The
Desire
of Ages,
page 22.
2.
How do the Scriptures indicate
a timing of the Messiah's coming?
Rom. 5:6; Gal. 4:4.
3.
How seemingly hopeless had be-
come the condition of the chosen peo-
ple? Micah 3:9-11; Matt. 23:23-33.
the world to look upon Him as a tyrant.
. . . The ordinances which God Himself
had appointed were made the means of
blinding the mind and hardening the heart.
God could do no more for man through
these channels. The whole system must be
swept
away."—The Desire of Ages,
page 36.
4.
What was the condition of the
heathen world? Rom. 1:22-31.
NorE.—"The world had grown old, and
the dotage of its paganism was marked by
hideous excesses. Atheism in belief was
followed, as among nations it has always
been, by degradation of morals. Iniquity
seemed to have run its course to the very
farthest goal. . . Crime was universal,
and there was no known remedy for the
horror and ruin which it was causing. . . .
There was a callosity of heart, a petrifying
of the moral sense, which even those who
suffered from it felt to be abnormal and
portentous. Even the heathen world felt
that 'the fullness of the time' had come."—
F. W. Farrar,
The Life of Christ,
1887 ed.,
p. 59 (ch. 8).
"A new element of life and power must
be imparted by Him who made the world.
. . . At the very crisis, when Satan seemed
about to triumph, the Son. of God came
with the embassage of divine
grace."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 37.
NorE.—"The people whom God had
called to be the pillar and ground of the
truth had become representatives of Sa-
tan. They were doing the work that he de-
sired them to do, taking a course to mis-
represent the character of God, and cause
[.4 J
The Heavenly Messenger
5. What message did the angel Ga- .
briel bring as Zacharias the priest was
ministering in the temple? Luke 1:
11-17.
6.
What thrilling message did Ga-
briel bring to Mary, who was es-
poused to Joseph? In what words did
Mary express her acceptance of the
honor bestowed upon her? Luke 1:
26-31, 38.
7.
How was the birth of Jesus re-
vealed to Joseph? Matt. 1:18-21.
Messianic Prophecies and
Their Fulfillment
8.
What prophetic promise made
to David concerning his seed was re-
peated to Mary? 2 Sam. 7:12, 13, 16;
Ps. 89:35-37; Luke 1:32, 33.
NOTE.—"The Hebrews were very careful
in preserving their genealogies. . . . In the
Evangelists we have the genealogy of Jesus
Christ deduced for four thousand years,
from Adam to Joseph or Mary. . . . Their
exactness was likewise ordered by the spe-
cial providence of God, that so it might be
certainly known of what tribe and family
the Messiah was born."—Cruden's Concor-
dance, note under- "genealogy."
9.
How specific was Micah's pre-
diction concerning the birthplace of
Christ? How was this fulfilled? Micah
5:2; Luke 2:1-5, 11.
NOTE.—"As in old time Cyrus was called
to the throne of the world's empire that
he
might set free the captives of the Lord,
so Caesar Augustus is made the agent for
the fulfillment of God's purpose in bring-
ing the mother of Jesus to Bethlehem. She
is of the lineage of David, and the son of
David must be born in David's city."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 44.
10.
How was Isaiah's prophecy
concerning the manner of Jesus' birth
fulfilled? Isa. 7:14; Matt, .1:22, 23.
The Incarnation
11.
What were the circumstances
surrounding the birth of Jesus? Luke
2:6, 7.
NOTE.—"We marvel at the Saviour's sac-
rifice in exchanging the throne of heaven
for the manger, and the companionship of
adoring angels for the beasts of the stall.
Human pride and self-sufficiency, stand re-
buked in His presence. Yet this was but
the beginning of His wonderful conde-
scension. It would have been an almost in-
finite humiliation for the Son of God to
take man's nature: even when Adam stood
in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus ac-
cepted humanity when the race had been
weakened by four thousand years of sill:"
—The Desire of Ages,
pages 48, 49.
12.
Why was it necessary for the
Son of God to clothe His divinity
with humanity? Heb. 2:14-18. Com-
pare John 1:1, 14.
NorE.—"The Redeemer of the world
clothed His divinity with humanity, that
He might reach humanity; for, in order to
[ 5
•
bring to the world salvation, it was neces-
sary that humanity and divinity should be
united. Divinity needed humanity, that hu-
manity might afford a channel of communi-
cation between God and man, and hu-
manity needed divinity, that a power from
above might restore man to the likeness
of God. Christ was God, but He did not
appear as God. He veiled the tokens of
divinity, which had commanded the hom-
age of angels and called forth the adoration
of the universe of God. He made Himself
of no reputation, took upon Him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness
of sinful flesh. For our sakes he became
poor, that we through His poverty might
be made rich."—Ellen G. White, in
Signs
of the Times,
Feb. 20, 1893.
13. By His incarnation what did
Christ become for man? John 3:16;
1 John 4:14.
14. How closely will Christ iden-
tify Himself with us through the
ceaseless ages of eternity? Isa. 9:7;
Rev. 21:3. Compare Eph. 2:6, 7.
NOTE.
-"It
was Satan's purpose to bring
about an eternal separation between God
and man; but in Christ we become more
closely united to God than if we had never
fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour
has bound Himself to humanity by a tie
that is never to be broken. Through the
eternal ages He is linked with us. . . . He
gave Him not only to bear our sins, and
to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the
fallen race. To assure us of His immuta-
ble counsel of peace, God gave His only-
begotten Son to become one of the human
family, forever to retain His human nature.
. . . In Christ the family of earth and the
family of heaven are bound together."—
The Desire of Ages,
pages 25, 26.
Lesson 2, for July 14, 1956
The Reception of Jesus
LESSON SCRIPTURES: Matthew 2; Luke 2:8-32.
MEMORY VERSE: "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born
this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke
2:10, 11.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 44.67; Sabbath School Lesson Helps in
"Review and Herald" of June 28; "The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commen-
tary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
General survey.
❑
❑
0
Sabbath afternoon:
Sunday: Ques: 1-3.
Monday: Ques. 4-7.
Tuesday: Ques. 8-11.
Wednesday: Ques. 12-14.
Thursday: Read Study Help
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
❑
6
Lesson Outline:
I. The Announcement to the Shepherds
1.
The announcement of Christ's
birth. Luke 2:8-12.
2.
The angel anthem. Luke 2:13, 14.
3.
The reaction of the shepherds.
Luke 2:16-18.
II. The Dedication
4.
Naming the Child. Luke 2:21;
Matt. 1:21.
5.
Offering for purification. Luke
2:24; Lev. 12:6-8.
6.
Dedication of First-born. Luke
2:22, 23; Num. 3:13.
III. Waiting for the Redeemer
7.
Simeon's prophecy. Luke 2:27-32,
34, 35.
8.
Witness of Anna. Luke 2:36-38.
IV. The Visit of the Wise Men
9.
Following the star. Matt. 2:1, 2.
10.
Herod's inquiry of the Jewish
leaders. Matt. 2 :3 -6 ; Micah 5:2..
11.
Herod's request of the Wise Men.
Matt. 2:7-12.
V. Providential Deliverance
12.
The escape to Egypt. Matt.
2:13-15.
13.
The babes of Bethlehem slain.
Matt. 2:16-18.
14.
The return to Nazareth. Matt.
2:19-23 ; John 1:46.
THE LESSON
The Announcement to the
Shepherds
1.
By whom and to whom was the
announcement of Jesus' birth first
made? Luke 2:8-12.
NOTE.-"The
priests and teachers of the
nation knew not that the greatest event of
the ages was about to take place. They re-
hearsed their meaningless prayers, and per-
formed the rites of worship to be seen by
men, but in their strife for riches and
worldly honor they were not prepared for
the revelation of the Messiah. The same
indifference pervaded the land of Israel.
Hearts selfish and world-engrossed were
untouched by the joy that thrilled all
heaven. Only a few were longing to behold
the Unseen. To these heaven's embassy
was
sent."-The Desire of Ages,
page 44.
2.
While the chosen people were
unaware of the momentous event,
how was the joy of heavenly beings
manifested? Luke 2:13, 14.
NoTE.-"Heaven and earth are no wider
apart today than when shepherds listened
to the angels' song. . . . To us in the-com-
mon walks of life, heaven may be very
near. Angels from the courts above will
attend the steps of those who come and go
at God's command."-The
Desire of Ages,
page 48.
3.
What was the reaction of the
shepherds, and how did their report
affect the people? Luke 2:16-18.
The Dedication
4.
What name was given to the
Child at the time of His circumcision?
Luke 2:21; Matt. 1:21.
NOTE.-"
`Hoshea' meant salvation;
Joshua, 'whose salvation is Jehovah ;' Je-
sus is but the English modification of the
Greek form of the name. . . . The He-
brew 'Messiah' and the Greek 'Christ' were
names which represented His office as the
Anointed Prophet, Priest, and King; but
`Jesus' was the personal name which He
bore as one who 'emptied Himself of His
glory' to become a sinless man among sin-
ful men."-F. W. Farrar,
The Life of
Christ,
1887 ed., p. 9 (ch. 2).
[
7]
4
11
NOT THE HAUGHTY, BUT THE
HUMBLE, •
FOUND THE CHRIST CHILD.
5.
How was the poverty of Christ's
parents indicated in the offering for
Mary's purification on the fortieth
day? Luke 2:24; Lev. 12:6-8.
NoTE.—"The proper offering on such oc-
casions was a yearling lamb for a burnt
offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove
for a sin offering; but with that beautiful
tenderness which is so marked a character-
istic of the Mosaic legislation, those who
were too poor for so comparatively costly
an offering, were allowed to bring instead
two turtledoves or two young pigeons.
With this humble offering Mary presented
herself to the priest."—Farrar,
The Life of
Christ,
page 9.
6.
What was the significance of the
dedication of Mary's first-born Son?
Luke 2:22, 23; Num. 3:13.
NOTE.—"The dedication of the first-born
had its origin in the earliest times. God
had promised to give the First-born of
heaven to save the sinner. This gift was to
be acknowledged in every household by
the consecration of the first-born son. He
was to. be devoted to the priesthood, as a
representative of Christ among men. In
the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the
dedication of the first-born was again com-
manded. . . . After the tabernacle service
was established, the Lord chose the tribe
of Levi in the place of the first-born of all
Israel to minister in the sanctuary. But the
first-born were still to be regarded as the
Lord's, and were to be bought back by a
ransom."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 51,
Waiting for the Redeemer
7.
With what prophetic words did
Simeon describe the mission of
Christ? By what statement did he
seek to prepare Mary for the anguish
she was to bear? Luke 2:27-32, 34, 35.
NOTE.—"`That the thoughts of many
hearts may be revealed.' In the light of the
Saviour's life, the hearts of all, even from
the Creator to the prince of darkness, are
revealed. . . . In the day of final judgment,
every lost soul will understand the nature
of his own rejection of truth."—The
Desire
of Ages,
pages 57, 58.
8.
How did Anna the prophetess
confirm the witness of Simeon? Luke
2:36-38.
The Visit of the Wise Men
9.
Who from the Gentile world
were divinely guided to seek out the
newborn King? What inquiry aroused
widespread interest? Matt. 2:1, 2.
NOTE.—"The Wise Men from the East
were philosophers. They belonged to a large
and influential class that included men of
noble birth, and comprised much of the
wealth and learning of their nation. Among
these were many who imposed on the
credulity of the people. Others were up-
right men who studied the indications of
Providence in nature, and who were hon-
ored for their integrity and wisdom. Of
this character were the Wise Men who
came to Jesus. . . .
"The Wise Men had seen a mysterious
light in the heavens upon that night when
[ 8 ]
the glory of God flooded the hills of Beth-
lehem. As the light faded, a luminous star
appeared, and lingered in the sky.. . .
That star was a distant company of shin-
ing
angels."—The Desire of Ages,
pages
59, 60.
10.
Fearing a plot against his
throne, what did Herod demand of
the chief priests and scribes? What
prophecy did they cite in reply? Matt.
2:3-6; Micah 5:2.
11.
What did Herod ask the Wise
Men to do, and why did they not com-
ply with his request? Matt. 2:7-12.
Providential Deliverance
12.
What instruction was given to
Joseph in a dream? How long did
the family remain in Egypt? Matt. 2:
13-15.
NoTE.—"Satan was bent on shutting out
the divine light from the world, and he
used his utmost cunning to destroy the
Saviour. But He who never slumbers nor
sleeps was watching over His beloved Son.
. . . And through the gifts of the Magi
from a heathen country, the Lord supplied
the means for the journey into Egypt and
the sojourn in a land of strangers. . . . The
offering from the heart that loves, God de-
lights to honor, giving it highest efficiency
in service for
Him."—The Desire of Ages,
page 65.
13.
What ruthless measure did the
king take to destroy the child Jesus?
How was prophecy fulfilled? Matt.
2:16-18. Compare Jer. 31:15.
NoTE.—"This calamity the Jews had
brought upon themselves. . . . It was their
proud boast that the Messiah was to come
as a king, conquering His enemies, and
treading down the heathen in His wrath.
Thus they had excited the hatred of their
rulers."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 65, 66.
14.
Following their sojourn in
Egypt, what circumstances led Joseph
and his family to make their home in
Nazareth? For what was Nazareth
proverbial? Matt. 2:19-23; John 1:46.
Nom—Character is not dependent upon
environment. Unfavorable environment is
no excuse for sinning. In heaven, where all
was purity and holiness, Lucifer fell. Just
as the pure white lily springs from the
black mud of the pond, so, in Nazareth,
proverbial for its wickedness, Jesus de-
veloped a spotless character.
Lesson 3, for July 21, 1956
Early Life of Jesus; The Voice in the Wilderness
LESSON SCRIPTURES: Matt. 3:1-12; Luke 2:39-52; 3:1-9.
MEMORY VERSE:
"Behold the Lamb of God,
which
taketh away the sin of
the
world." John 1:29.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of
Ages,"
pages 68-108; Sabbath School Lesson Helps
in "Review and Herald" of July 5; "The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commen-
tary," volume 5.
[ 9 ]
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
❑
Monday: Ques. 5-7.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 8-11.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 12-14.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
.
❑
Lesson Outline:
I. The Passover Visit
1.
The Passover. Luke 2:41, 42.
2.
The missing Child. Luke 2:43-46,
first part.
3.
The temple school. Luke 2:46 (last
part), 47.
4.
His Father's business. Luke
2:48, 49.
II. The Early Years
5.
An exemplary home life. Luke
2:51; Mark 6:3.
6.
A fourfold development. Luke
2:40, 52.
7.
The brothers of Jesus. Mark 3:31,
32 ; John 7:5.
III. The Ministry of John
8.
The preparatory years. Luke 1:80.
9.
John's manner of life. Luke
1:15 ; Matt. 3 :4.
10.
The call to repentance. Luke 3:
1-3, 10-14; Matt. 3:1, 2.
11.
The true seed of Abraham. Matt.
3:7-10; Luke 3:7-9.
12.
The baptism of repentance.
Matt. 3:5, 6; Mark 1:4, 5.
IV. The Coming of Elijah
13.
The voice in the wilderness.
John 1:19-23 ; Isa. 40:3, 4.
14.
The spirit and power of Elijah.
Mal. 4:5, 6; Luke 1:16, 17.
THE LESSON
The Passover Visit
1. In harmony with the Mosaic
law, what feast did Jesus attend when
He was twelve years old? Luke 2:
41, 42.
NoTE.-"The deliverance of Israel from
Egypt was an object lesson of redemption,
which the Passover was intended to keep
in memory. The slain lamb, the unleavened
bread, the sheaf of first fruits, represented
the Saviour. . . .
"Day by day He saw their meaning
more clearly. Every act seemed to be
bound up with His own life. New impulses
were awakening within Him. Silent and
absorbed, He seemed to be studying out a
great problem. The mystery of His mission
was opening to the Saviour."-The
Desire
of Ages,
pages 77, 78.
2.
Where did Joseph and Mary find
their lost Child after He had been
missing for three days? Luke 2:43-46,
first part.
NoTE.-"By one day's neglect they lost
the Saviour; but it cost them three days
of anxious search to find Him. So with us;
by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of
prayer, we may in one day lose the Sav-
iour's presence, and it may take many days
of sorrowful search to find Him, and re-
gain the peace that we have lost."-The
Desire of Ages,
page 83.
3.
What had
Jesus
been doing in
the temple during this time? Luke
2:46 (last part), 47.
Non.-"At that day an
apartment con-
[ 10 ]
nected with the temple was devoted to a
sacred school, after the manner of the
schools of the prophets. . . . As one seek-
ing for wisdom, He questioned these teach-
ers in regard to the prophecies, and to
events then taking place that pointed to the
advent of the Messiah. . . . While showing
how narrow and superficial was the wisdom
of the wise men, every question put be-
fore them a divine lesson, and placed truth
in a new aspect. . . . If followed, the
lines of truth He pointed out would have
worked a reformation in the religion of the
day."—The Desire of Ages,
pages 78, 79.
4.
With what question did Mary
greet her Son, and how did He an-
swer? Luke 2:48, 49.
NOTE.—"In the answer to His mother,
Jesus showed for the first time that He
understood His relation to God. . . . While
she believed that her child was to be Is-
rael's Messiah, she did not comprehend His
mission."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 81, 82.
The Early Years
5.
What example did Jesus set in
His home life? What occupation did
He follow? Luke 2:51; Mark 6:3.
NOTE.—"Nor must we lose sight of the
fact that it was in these silent, unrecorded
years that a great part of His work was
done. . . . That noiseless battle, in which
no clash of weapons sounds, but in which
the combatants against us are none the less
terrible because they are not seen, went on
through all the years of His redeeming
obedience. . . . They were the years of a
sinless childhood, a sinless boyhood, a sin-
less youth, a sinless manhood, spent in
that humility, toil, obscurity, submission,
contentment, prayer, to make them an
eternal example to all our race. . . . The
vast majority of us are placed, by God's
own appointment, amid those quiet duties
of a commonplace and uneventful routine
which are most closely analogous to the
thirty years of His retirement."—F. W.
Farrar,
The Life of Christ,
1887 ed., pp.
43, 44 (ch. 7).
THIS,T00, WAS 'HS FATHERS BUSINESS.
30 56-5
=Ten
6.
What is said of Jesus' growth
and development? Luke 2:40, 52.
NoTE.—"His mother was His first hu-
man teacher. From her lips and from the
scrolls of the prophets, He learned of heav-
enly things. . . . And spread out before
Him was the great library of God's created
works. . . . He studied the life of plants
and animals, and the life of man. From
His earliest years He was possessed of one
purpose; He lived to bless others. . . .
Continually He was seeking to draw from
things seen illustrations by which to pre-
sent the living oracles of God."—The
De-
sire of Ages,
page 70. •
7.
In Christ's early ministry, what
act and words of His brothers indi-
cate conflict in the home? Mark 3:
31, 32; John 7:5.
NOTE.—"His brothers, as the sons of
Joseph were called, sided with the rabbis.
They insisted that the traditions must be
heeded, as if they were the requirements of
God. . . . They were greatly annoyed at
the clear penetration of Jesus in distinguish-
ing between the false and the true. . . .
Being older than Jesus, they felt that He
should be under their dictation."—The
De-
sire of Ages,
pages 86, 87.
f
11 ]
The Ministry of John
8.
Where did John the Baptist
spend his days of preparation? Luke
1:80.
NoTE.—"The training of the rabbinical
schools would have unfitted him for his
work. . . . He [God] called him to the
desert, that he might learn of nature and
nature's God."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
101.
"The solemn stillness of the hills, and
the boundless sweep of the daily and
nightly heavens, effaced the thought of
man, and filled his soul with the majesty of
God. What was man, whose days were a
handbreadth, and whose foundation was
in the dust, before the mighty Maker of
heaven and earth ?"—Cunningham Geikie,
The Life and Words of Christ, vol.
1, p.
382 (ch. 24).
9.
How did John's manner of life
contribute to the fulfillment of his
mission? Luke 1:15; Matt. 3:4.
NOTE.—"In order to fulfill his mission, he
must have a sound physical constitution,
and mental and spiritual strength. There-
fore it would be necessary for him to con-
trol the appetites and passions. . . . In
childhood and youth the character is most
impressible. The power of self-control
should then be acquired. By the fireside
and at the family board influences are ex-
erted whose results are as enduring as eter-
nity. More than any natural endowment,
the habits established in early years decide
whether a man will be victorious or van-
quished in the battle of life."—The
Desire
of Ages,
pages 100, 101.
"His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts
and wild honey, was a rebuke to the in-
dulgence of appetite and the gluttony that
everywhere
prevailed."—Testimonies, vol.
3,
p. 62.
10.
When and where did John be-
gin his ministry? What was his mes-
sage? Luke 3:1-3, 10-14; Matt. 3:1, 2.
NOTE.—"His sentences strike, swift and
glittering, like lightning flashes, amidst the
roll of judgment-day thunders. . . . He
compares Israel to a barren fruit tree ready
for felling, and points to the ax already
laid at its roots. Timely repentance, and
the bringing forth good fruit, may avert
the stroke, otherwise it must presently fall,
and the tree be cast into the fire. The next
moment Israel is a great threshing floor,
and the winnowing shovel is at hand to
cleanse it thoroughly, that the wheat may
be gathered into the garner, and the chaff
burned up with unquenchable fire."—Gei-
kie,
The Life and Words of Christ, vol.
1,
pp. 399, 400 (ch. 25).
11.
How did John the Baptist meet
the claim of the Pharisees and Sad-
ducees that they were the favored de-
scendants of Abraham? Matt. 3:7-10;
Luke 3:7-9.
12.
How did the people respond to
John's message? Matt. 3:5, 6; Mark
1:4, 5.
The Coming of Elijah
13.
When challenged, what proph-
ecy did John cite? John 1:19-23; Isa.
40:3, 4.
14.
With what remarkable proph-
ecy does the Old Testament close?
Mal. 4:5, 6. Compare Luke 1:16, 17.
Nom—This is one of those prophecies
having a double application, the earlier
fulfillment being a type of the latter. As
the message of John the Baptist, in the
spirit and power of Elijah, prepared the
way for the first advent of our Lord, so
the advent message is preparing a people
for the great and terrible day 'of the Lord
in fulfillment of Revelation 14:9-12.
[ 12 ]
Lesson 4, for July 28, 1956
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
LESSON SCRIPTURES:
Matt.
3:13-17; 4:1-11;
Luke
3:21-23; 4:1-13.
MEMORY VERSE:
"He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matt.
4:4.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," pages 109-131; Sabbath School Lesson Helps
in "Review and Herald" of July 12; "The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Com-
mentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 11-13.
0
Sunday: Ques. 1-3.
❑
Thursday: Read Study Helps
Monday: Ques. 4-7.
❑
assignment.
0
Tuesday: Ques. 8-10.
0
Friday: Review.
0
Lesson Outline:
I. The Baptism of Jesus
1.
The baptism by John. Luke 3:23;
Matt. 3:13-15.
2.
The example of Jesus. John 3:23 ;
Matt. 3:6, 16 ; Rom. 6:4.
3.
The witness from heaven. Luke
3 :22 ; Acts 10:38.
II. The First Temptation
4.
The ordeal in the wilderness.
Mark 1:12, 13 ; Luke 4:1, 2.
5.
The hour of weakness. Matt. 4:2.
6.
The subtle insinuation met.
Matt. 4:3,.4.
7. The effect of sensual indulgence.
1 Peter 2:11.
III. The Secondlemptation
8. Presumption versus faith. Matt.
4:5, 6; Ps. 91:11, 12.
9. Jesus' defense. Matt. 4:7.
IV. The Third Temptation
10. The love of the world. Matt.
4:8, 9.
11. The victory. Luke 4:8.
12, Angel ministry. Matt. 4:11.
13: Mighty to save. Heb. 2:17, 18.
THE LESSON
characterthat he had never before per-
ceived in any man. The very atmosphere of
His presence was holy and awe-inspiring.
. . . Jesus did not receive baptism as a
confession of guilt on His own account. He
identified Himself with sinners, taking the
steps that we are to take, and doing the
work that we must
do."-The Desire of
Ages,
pages 110, 111.
2. How does the Inspired Record
indicate the mode of baptism and the
[ 13 ]
The Baptism of Jesus
1. At what age did our Lord be-
gin His public ministry? Why did
the Sinless One come to John to be
baptized? Luke 3:23; Matt. 3:13-15.
NoTE.-"When Jesus came to be bap-
tized, John recognized in Him a purity of
experience that should follow bap-
tism? John 3:23; Matt. 3:6, 16; Rom.
6:4.
_ 3. How was Christ anointed for
His ministry, and what proclamation
was made by the Father at that time?
Luke 3:22; Acts 10:38.
Nora.—"He was now, upon a wider
stage, entering on the conflict of his life.
. . . Upon His arm depended the salvation
of the fallen race, and He reached out. His
hand to grasp the hand of Omnipotent
Love.
"The Saviour's glance seems to penetrate
heaven as He pours out His soul in prayer.
. . . He pleads with the Father for power
to overcome their unbelief, to break the
fetters with which Satan has enthralled
them, and in their behalf to conquer the
destroyer. He asks for the witness that
God accepts humanity in the person of His
Son. Never before have the angels lis-
tened to such a prayer. . . . The heavens
are opened, and upon the Saviour's head
descends a dovelike form of purest light,—
fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly
One."—The Desire of Ages,
pages 111, 112.
The First Temptation
4.
Led by the Spirit, how did Jesus
spend the forty days in the wilder-
ness? Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1, 2.
NOTE.—"When Jesus was led into the
wilderness to be tempted, He was led by
the Spirit of God. He did not invite temp-
tation. He went to the wilderness to be
alone, to contemplate His mission and
work. By fasting and prayer He was to
brace Himself for the bloodstained path
He must travel. But Satan knew that the
Saviour had gone into the wilderness, and
he thought this the best time to approach
Him."—The Desire of Ages,
page 114.
5.
At what point in the Saviour's
wilderness experience did Satan make
his crucial effort to overcome Jesus?
Matt. 4:2.
Nora.—"This was the tempter's moment.
. . . When the enthusiasm is spent, when
the exaltation dies away, when the fire
burns low, when Nature, weary and over-
strained, reasserts her rights—in a word,
when a mighty reaction has begun, which
leaves the man suffering, spiritless, ex-
hausted—then is the hour of extreme dan-
ger, and that has been, in many a fatal in-
stance, the moment in which a man has
fallen a victim to insidious allurement or
bold assault. It was at such a moment that
the great battle of our Lord against the
powers of evil was fought and won."—
F. W. Farrar,
The Life of Christ,
1887 ed.,
pp. 56, 57 (ch. 9).
6.
How did Jesus meet Satan's
temptation to doubt His divinity?
Matt. 4:3, 4. Compare Deut. 8:3.
NorE.—"There came to the Saviour, as
if in answer to His prayers, one in the
guise of an angel from heaven. He claimed
to have a commission from God to declare
that Christ's fast was at an end. . . .
Though he appears as an angel of light,
these first words betray his character. 'If
thou be the Son of God.'
"—The Desire of
Ages,
page 118.
7.
From what does Peter admonish
Christians to abstain, and for what
reason? 1 Peter 2:11.
NOTE.—"Of all the lessons to be learned
from our Lord's first great temptation none
is more important than that bearing upon
the control of the appetites and passions.
In all ages, temptations appealing to the
physical nature have been most effectual
in corrupting and degrading mankind.
Through intemperance, Satan works to
destroy the mental and moral powers that
God gave to man as a priceless endowment.
Thus it becomes impossible for men to
appreciate things of eternal worth. Through
sensual indulgence, Satan seeks to blot from
[14 ]
THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD
ARE ONLY A MOVIE SET.
the soul every trace of likeness to God.
. . . His [Jesus'] example declares that
our only hope of eternal life is through
bringing the appetites and passions into
subjection to the will of
God."—The De-
sire of Ages,
page 122.
The Second Temptation
8.
How did Satan press his next
temptation? What vital phrase was
omitted from his quotation of Scrip-
ture? Matt. 4:5, 6; Ps. 91:11, 12.
NoTE.—"Faith is in no sense allied to
presumption. . . . Presumption is Satan's
counterfeit of faith. . . . It is not faith
that claims the favor of Heaven without
complying with the conditions on which
mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has
its foundation in the promises and provi-
sions of the Scriptures."—The
Desire of
Ages,
page 126.
9.
How did Jesus withstand this
assault of the tempter? Matt. 4:7.
Compare Deut. 6:16.
The Third Temptation
10.
What offer did Satan make
from the mountaintop view of the
world? Matt. 4:8,
9.
NOTE.—"Satan . . . stated what was
true only in part, and he declared it to
serve his own purpose of deception. Sa-
tan's dominion was that wrested from
Adam, but Adam was the vicegerent of the
Creator. His was not an independent rule.
The earth is God's, and He has committed
all things to His Son. . . . When Adam be-
trayed his sovereignty into Satan's hands,
Christ still remained the rightful King. . . .
Satan can exercise his usurped authority
only as God permits."—The
Desire of
Ages,
pages 129, 130.
11.
With what summary dismissal
did our Lord give incontrovertible
evidence of His divinity? Luke 4:8.
Compare Deut. 10:20.
NoTE.—"Satan had questioned whether
Jesus was the Son of God. In his summary
dismissal he had proof that he could not
gainsay. Divinity flashed through suffer-
ing humanity. Satan had no power to re-
sist the command. . . . Christ's victory was
as complete as had been the failure of
Adam. So we may resist temptation, and
force Satan to depart from
us."—The De-
sire of Ages,
page 130.
12.
Who ministered to Jesus in His
exhaustion? Matt. 4:11.
NOTE.—"The angels now ministered to
the Son of God as He lay like one dying.
. . . Never can the cost of our redemption
be realized until the redeemed shall stand
with the Redeemer before the throne of
God. Then as the glories of the eternal
home burst upon our enraptured senses we
shall remember that Jesus left all this for us,
that He not only became an exile from the
heavenly courts, but for
-
us took the risk of
failure and eternal loss."—The
Desire of
Ages,
page 131.
13.
What assurance does the vic-
torious experience of Jesus bring to
us? Heb. 2:17, 18.
( 15
3
NorE.-"If we had to bear anything
which Jesus did not endure, then upon
this point Satan would represent the power
of God as insufficient for us. Therefore
Jesus was 'in all points tempted like as we
are.' Heb. 4:15. He endured every trial
to which we are subject. And He exer-
cised in His own behalf no power that is
not freely offered to us. As man, He met
temptation, and overcame in the strength
given Him from God."-The
Desire of
Ages,
page 24.
Lesson 5, for August 4, 1956
The Early Events of Public Ministry
LESSON SCRIPTURE:
John 1:35-51; 2:1-23.
MEMORY VERSE:
"Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." John 2:5.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," pages 132-166; Sabbath School Lesson Helps
in "Review and Herald" of July 19; "The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Com-
mentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
❑
Monday: Ques. 5-7.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 8-10.
❑
Wednesday: Ques.
11-14.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
0
0
Lesson Outline:
I. The First Disciples
1.
Andrew and John. John 1:35-40.
2.
Simon Peter. John 1:41, 42.
3.
Philip and Nathanael. John
1:43-46.
4.
Nathanael's confession
of
faith.
John 1:47-51.
II. The First Miracle
5.
At the marriage feast. John
2:1, 2.
6.
Mary's request. John 2:3, 4.
7.
Turning the water into wine.
John 2:5-8.
8.
The governor's testimony. John
2:9-11.
III. In the Temple
9.
Attending
the Passover. John
2:13.
10.
The desecration
of
the temple.
John 2:14.
11.
Cleansing of the temple. John
2:15-17; Ps. 69:9.
12.
The sign of Messiahship. John
2:18-21.
13.
Cause of belief in Christ. John
2:23.
14.
Cleansing the spiritual temple.
1 Cor. 3:16, 17.
THE LESSON
The First Disciples
1. By
what testimony were the first
two disciples led to Jesus? How did
our Lord respond to their inquiry?
John 1:35-40.
[ 16 ]
NoTE.—"The evangelist John informs us,
that one of the disciples was Andrew, the
brother of Simon Peter; and it is con-
jectured, from his silence, that himself
was the other; for it is remarkable, that
in his writings he studiously concealed his
own name."—Fleetwood,
Life of Christ
(New Haven, 1832), p. 72.
2.
What did Andrew immediately
do? What revealing name did Jesus
apply to Simon? John 1:41, 42.
Nora.—The Revised Standard Version of
these verses reads: "He first found his
brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have
found the Messiah' (which means Christ).
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at
him, and said, 'So you are Simon the son
of john ;You shall be called
-
Cephas'
(which means Peter [rock])."
"The eyeof Christ rested upon him, read-
ing his character and his life history. His
impulsive '*nature, his loving, sympathetic
heart, his 'ambition and self-confidence, the
history of his fall, his repentance, his la-
bors, and his martyr death,—the Saviour
read it
all."--The Desire of Ages,
page 139.
3.
Who next heard the call to disci-
pleship, and what' was his first act?
John 1:43-46.
NOTE.—"There was but one answer to
this—that which Philip, made, which Jesus
had. Made to Andrew. and John, and which
hai ever since been the best answer to all
Christian inquiry: `CoMe and see.' "—Al-
fred Edersheim
' The Life and, Times of Je-
sus the Messiah, vol.
1, pp. 349, 350.
4.
What were Christ's words of
greeting and Nathanael's words of
faith? What greater evidence did Je-
sus promise? John 1:47-51.
NOTE.—"These examples should teach us
the importance of personal effort, of mak-
ing direct appeals to our kindred, friends,
and neighbors. There are those who for • a
lifetime have professed to be acquainted
with Christ, yet who have never made a
personal effort to bring even one soul to
the Saviour. . ... Many have gone down
to ruin who might have been saved if
their neighbors, common men and women,
had put forth personal effort for them.
Many are waiting to be personally ad-
dressed. In the very family, the neighbor-
hood, the town, where we live, there is
work for us to do as missionaries for
Christ."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 141.
The First Miracle
5.
What occasion furnished Jesus
opportunity to come close to the peo-
ple socially? John 2:1, 2.
NOTE.—"Jesus reproved self-indulgence
in all its forms, yet He was social in His
nature. He accepted the hospitality of all
classes, visiting the homes of the rich and
the poor, the learned and the ignorant,
and seeking to elevate their thoughts from
questions of commonplace life to those
things that are spiritual and eternal. He
gave no license to dissipation, and no
shadow of worldly levity marked His con-
duct; yet He found pleasure in scenes of
innocent happiness, and by His presence
sanctioned the social gathering. A Jewish
marriage was an impressive occasion, and
its joy was not displeasing to the Son of
man. By attending this feast, Jesus hon-
ored marriage as a divine institution."—
The Desire of Ages,
pages 150, 151.
6.
What suggestion did Mary make
to Jesus when the wine unexpectedly
gave
out? How did Jesus reply and
why? John 2:3, 4.,
NcrrE.—"The words at first sound harsh,
and almost repellent in their roughness and
brevity; but that is the fault partly of our
version, partly of our associations...
The address 'Woman' . . . was so respect-
ful that it might be, and was, addressed to
the queenliest, and so gentle that it might
be, and was, addressed at the tenderest mo-
ments to the most fondly loved."—F. W.
Farrar,
The Life of Christ,
1887 ed.,-'p.
77 (ch. 11). Compare John 19:26.
3. PETER AT PENTECOST
7.
What instruction did Mary give
to the servants? As they obeyed the
command of Jesus, what miracle was
wrought? John 2:5-8.
NOTE.—"He who each year prepares the
wine in the grape, causing it to absorb,
and swell with, the moisture of earth and
heaven, to transmute this into nobler
juices of its own, did now concentrate all
those slower processes into a single mo-
ment, and accomplish in an instant what
usually He takes many months to accom-
plish."—R. C. Trench,
Notes on the Mira-
cles of Our Lord,
11th ed., pp. 115, 116.
"The wine which Christ provided for
the feast, and that which He gave to the
disciples as a symbol of His own blood, was
the pure juice of the grape. To this the
prophet Isaiah refers when he speaks of
the new wine 'in the cluster,' and says,
`Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it.' Isa.
65:8. It was Christ who in the Old Testa-
ment gave the warning to Israel, 'Wine is
a mocker, strong drink is raging: and who-
soever is deceived thereby is not wise.'
Prov. 20:1. And He Himself provided no
such beverage."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
149. Compare Isa. 65:8 ; Prov. 20:1.
8.
How did the governor of the
feast testify to the quality of this
wine? What was the effect of this
miracle? John 2:9-11.
NoTE.—"As men set forth the best wine
first, then afterward that which is worse,
so does the world with its gifts. That
which it offers may please the eye and
fascinate the senses, but it proves to be
unsatisfying. The wine turns to bitterness,
the gaiety to gloom. That which was be-
gun with songs and mirth ends in weari-
ness and disgust. But the gifts of Jesus are
ever fresh and new. The feast that He
provides for the soul never fails to give
satisfaction and
joy."—The Desire of Ages,
page' 148.
In the Temple
9.
What feast drew Jesus to Jeru-
salem? How general was the attend-
ance? John 2:13.
THE LORD
KNOWS
TO WHAT HE CALLS
US.
305e-5
NoTE.—"The numbers who flocked to
the Passover from every region of the East
might be counted by tens of thousands.
There were far more than the city could
by any possibility accommodate."—Farrar,
The Life of Christ,
p. 33 (ch. 6).
"That immense multitude, composed of
pilgrims from every land, and proselytes of
every nation, brought with them many
needs."—Ibid., p. 87 (ch. 13).
_ 10. As Jesus entered the temple
courts, what scenes
Qf
desecration
aroused His indignation? John 2:14.
NoTE.—"Many were unable to bring with
them the sacrifices that were to be offered
up as typifying the one great Sacrifice. For
the convenience of these, animals were
bought and sold in the outer court of the
temple. Here all classes of people assem-
bled to purchase their offerings. Here all
foreign money was exchanged for the coin
of the sanctuary. Every Jew was required
to pay yearly a half shekel as 'a ransom for
his soul;' and the money thus collected was
used for the support of the temple. Ex.
30:12-16. Besides this, large sums were
brought as freewill offerings. . . .
"The money changing gave opportunity
for fraud and extortion, and it had grown
into a disgraceful traffic, which was a
source of revenue to the. priests. The
dealers demanded exorbitant prices for the
animals sold, and they shared their profits
with the priests and rulers."—The
Desire of
Ages,
pages 154, 155.
11.
With what irresistible mani-
festation of divine authority did our
Lord cleanse the temple? What proph-
ecy did this act recall? John 2:15-17;
Ps. 69:9.
NorE.—"From the sacredness which was
attached to the earthly sanctuary, Chris-
tians may learn how they should regard
the place where the Lord meets with His
people. There has been a great change,
not for the better, but for the worse, in the
habits and customs of the people in refer-
ence to religious worship. The precious,
the sacred, things which connect us with
God are fast losing their hold upon our
minds and hearts, and are being brought
down to the level of common things."—
Testimonies, vol.
5, p. 491.
12.
How was Christ's answer about
signs misunderstood by the Jewish
leaders? John 2:18-21.
13.
What caused many to believe
in Christ at this time? John 2:23.
NOTE.—"When they [priests and rulers]
fled, the poor remained behind. . . . All
received attention. Everyone was healed
of whatever disease he had. . . . The hearts
of the sufferers were made glad."—The
De-
sire of Ages,
page 163.
14.
What warning is given against '
defiling the body temple? 1 Cor. 3:
16, 17. Compare 2 Cor. 6:16.
NOTE.—"The courts of the temple at Je-
rusalem, filled with the tumult of unholy
traffic, represented all too truly the temple
of the heart, defiled by the presence of sen-
sual passion and unholy thoughts. In
cleansing the temple from the world's buy-
ers and sellers,
,
Jesus announced His mis-
sion to cleanse the heart from the defile-
ment of sin,—from the earthly desires, the
selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt
the soul."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 161.
Lesson 6, for August 11, 1956
Christ a Personal Worker
LESSON SCRIPTURES: John 3:1-16; 4:1-42.
MEMORY VERSE: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," page 167-177, 183-195; Sabbath School Les-
son Helps in "Review and Herald" of July 26; "The Seventh-day Adventist
Bible Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 12-14.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
0
Thursday: Read Study Helps
Monday: Ques. 5-8.
0
assignment.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 9-11.
Friday: Review.
❑
[ 19 ]
Lesson Outline:
I. The New Birth Explained to
Nicodemus
1.
Nicodemus visits Jesus. John 3:1, 2.
2.
Jesus states a vital truth. John
3:3-5.
3.
The sinner's helplessness. John
3:6, 7; Jer. 13:23.
4.
The new birth illustrated. John 3:8.
5.
The fruit of the new birth. 2 Cor.
5:17; Gal. 5:22, 23.
6.
"Whosoever believeth in Him."
John 3:14-16.
II. The Woman of Samaria
7. At Jacob's well. John 4:4-7, first
part.
8. Breaking down prejuice.. John 4:7
(last part), 8, 9.
9. Living water. John 4:10-14.
10. Life secrets revealed. John 4:16-18.
III. Two Great Announcements
11. Acceptable worship. John 4:19-24.
12. Jesus announces His Messiahship.
John 4:25, 26.
IV. The Ripened Harvest Fields
13. Jesus' passion for souls. John
4:31-34.
14. Witnessing for Christ. John
4:28-30, 39-42.
THE LESSON
The New Birth Explained
to Nicodemus
1.
Who came to Jesus by night, and
for what purpose? John
3:1, 2.
NOTE.
-"His
[Nicodemus's] words were
designed to express and to invite confi-
dence; but they really expressed unbelief.
He did not acknowledge Jesus to be the
Messiah, but only a teacher sent from God."
-The Desire of Ages,
page 168.
2.
How did our Lord point out the
soul need of this ruler of the Jews?
How was this vital truth emphasized?.
John
3:3-5.
Compare 1 Cor.
2:14.
•
NOTE.-The margin •of John 3:3 reads,
"born from above."
"Jesus laid bare the foundation principles
of truth. He said to Nicodemus, It is not
theoretical knowledge you need so much as
spiritual regeneration. You need not to
have your curiosity satisfied, but to have
a new heart. You must receive a new life
from above before you can appreciate
heavenly things. Until this change takes
place, making all things new, it will result
in no saving good for you to discuss with
Me My authority or My mission."-The
Desire of Ages,
page 171.
3.
How helpless is the sinner to
work out his own salvation? John
3:
6,
'7; Jer.
13:23.
NOTE.-"Education,
culture, the exercise
of the will, human effort, all have their
proper sphere, but here they are powerless.
They may produce an outward correctness
of behavior, but they cannot change the
heart; they cannot purify the springs of
life. There must be a power working from
within, a new life from above, before men
can be changed from sin to holiness. That
power is Christ. His grace alone can
quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul,
and attract it to God, to holiness."-Steps
to Christ,
page 20.
4.
How did the gavioui illustrate
the new birth? John
3:8.
NoTE.-"A person may not be able to tell
the exact time or place, or to trace all the
circumstances in the process of conversion;
but this does not prove him to be uncon-
verted. By an agency as unseen as the
•
It
;VW
CHRIST WAS BORN INTO THE WORLD;
•
WE MUST BE BORN INTO THE KINGDOM
s-
a
OF
HEAVEN
.
wind, Christ is constantly working upon
the heart. Little by little, perhaps uncon-
sciously to the receiver, impressions are
made that tend to draw the soul to Christ.
These may be received through meditating
upon Him, through reading the Scriptures,
or through hearing the word from the
living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit
comes with more direct appeal, the soul
gladly surrenders itself to Jesus."—The
De-
sire of Ages,
page 172.
5. How are the results of this ex-
perience revealed in the life? 2 Cor.
5:17; Gal. 5:22, 23.
NOTE. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation ; the old has passed
-
away, behold, the new has come." 2 Cor.
5:17, R.S.V.
"When the Spirit of God takes possession
of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful
thoughts are put away, evil deeds are re-
nounced; love, humility, and peace take
the' place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy
takes the place of sadness, and the counte-
nance reflects the light of heaven. No one
sees the hand that lifts the burden, or be-
holds the light descend from the 'courts
above. The blessing comes when by faith
the soul surrenders itself to God. Then
that power which no human eye can see
creates a' new being in the image of God."
—The Desire of Ages,
page 173.
6.
By what familiar symbol did
Jesus reveal His mission? How is the
infinite love of God revealed? John
3:14-16.
NoTE.—"The symbol of the uplifted ser-
pent made plain to him the Saviour's mis-
sion. . . . As the image made in the likeness
of the destroying serpents was lifted up for
their healing, so One made 'in the likeness
of sinful flesh' was to be their Redeemer.
. . . Whether for the healing of their
wounds or the pardon of their sins, they
could do nothing for theMselves but show
their faith in the Gift of God. They were
to look and live. . . . The light from that
secret interview illumined the cross upon
Calvary, and Nicodernus saw in Jesus the
world's Redeemer."—The
Desire , of Ages,
pages 174-177.
The Woman of Samaria
7.
Passing through Somalia, at
what particular spot did Jesus stop to
rest? Who came to draw water? John
4:4-7, first part.
NOTE.—"On the way to Galilee Jesus
passed through Samaria. It was noon when
He reached the beautiful Vale of Shechem.
At the opening of this valley was Jacob's
well.' Wearied with His journey, He sat
down here to rest while His disciples went
to buy food. . . .
"As Jesus sat by the well side, He was
faint from hunger and thirst. The journey
since morning had been long, and now the
sun of noontide beat upon Him. His thirst
was increased by the thought of the cool,
refreshing water so near, yet inaccessible
to Him; for He had no rope nor water 'jar,
and the ,well was deep. The lot of hu-
manity was His, and He waited for some-
one to come to draw."--The
Desire of
Ages,
page 183.
'
8.
By what simple request .did Je-
sus seek to disarm prejudice? How
did the woman respond? John 4:7
(last part), 8, 9.
[ 21
I
NOTE.—"The Saviour was seeking to find
the key to this heart, and with the tact
born of divine love, He asked, not of-
fered, a favor. The offer of a kindness
might have been rejected; but trust awak-
ens trust. The King of heaven came to this
outcast soul, asking a service at her hands."
—The Desire of Ages,
page 184.
9.
How did the Master turn the
conversation to her spiritual need?
John 4:10-14.
NOTE.—"He who seeks to quench his
thirst at the fountains of this world will
drink only to thirst again. Everywhere
men are unsatisfied. They long for some-
thing to supply the need of the soul. Only
One can meet that want. The need of the
world, 'the Desire of all nations,' is Christ.
The divine grace which He alone can im-
part, is as living water, purifying, refresh-
ing, and invigorating the soul. . . . Every
human resource and dependence will fail.
The cisterns will be emptied, the pools be-
come dry; but our Redeemer is an inex-
haustible fountain."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 187.
10.
How did our Lord reveal His
knowledge of the woman's life? John
4:16-18.
Two Great Announcements
11.
How did Jesus define accepta-
ble worship? John 4:19-24.
NOTE.—"Words like these marked an
epoch in the spiritual history of the world;
a revolution in all previous ideas of the
relation of man to his Maker. They are
the proclamation of the essential equality
of man before God. . . . Rising high, not
only above His own age, but even above
the prejudices of all ages since, He gives
mankind their charter of spiritual liberty
for evermore. . . . The worth of man's
homage to God does not depend on the
place where it is paid. The true worship
has its temple in the inmost soul, in the
spirit and heart."—Cunningham Geikie,
The
Life and Words of Christ, vol.
1, p. 528
(ch. 31).
12.
What hope did the words of
Jesus bring to the woman's mind?
What wonderful announcement did
Jesus then make? John 4:25, 26.
NOTE. "His birth had been first revealed
by night to a few unknown and ignorant
shepherds; the first full, clear announce-
ment by Himself of His own Messiaship
was made by a well side in the weary noon
to a single obscure Samaritan woman. And
to this poor, sinful, ignorant stranger had
been uttered words of immortal signifi-
cance, to which all future ages would listen,
as it were with hushed breath and on their
knees."—F. W. Farrar,
The Life of Christ,
1887 ed., p. 100 (ch. 15).
The Ripened Harvest Fields
13.
Pressed by His disciples to par-
take of food, what secret of His power
did our Lord reveal? John 4:31-34:
14.
What convincing testimony did
the woman bear to the people of
Sychar? What was the result? John
4:28-30, 39-42.
NorE.—"There may be only one to hear
the message; but who can tell how far-
reaching will be its influence? It seemed a
small matter, even to His disciples, for the
Saviour to spend His time upon a woman
of Samaria. But He reasoned more ear-
nestly and eloquently with her than with
kings, councilors, or high priests. The les-
sons He gave to that woman have been
repeated to the earth's remotest bounds.
. . . Through the woman whom they [the
disciples] despised, a whole cityful were
brought to hear the Saviour. . . . Every
true disciple is born into the kingdom of
God as a missionary."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 194, 195.
[ 22 ]
Lesson 7, for August 18, 1956
The Baptist's Death; Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
LESSON SCRIPTURES:
Matt. 11:1-11; 14:1-11; Mark 1:35-45; 6:17-30; Luke 7:19-28.
MEMORY VERSE:
"The Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the
meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim
the acceptable year of the Lord." Isa. 61:1, 2.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," pages 214-225, 236-243, 262-271; Sabbath
School Lesson Helps in "Review and Herald" of August 2; "The Seventh-day
Adventist Bible Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check
Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
❑
Monday: Ques. 5-8.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 9-12.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 13-15.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
0
Lesson Outline:
I. The Baptist's Death
1.
John cast into prison. Matt. 14:3-5.
2.
Jesus answers John's questions.
Matt. 11:2-6.
3.
Jesus' testimony of John. Matt.
11:7-11.
4.
Herod's rash vow. Matt. 14:6, 7;
Mark 6:21-23.
5.
Salome's fatal request. Matt.
14:8-11.
6.
Herod's guilty conscience. Matt.
14:1, 2.
II. Jesus at Nazareth
7. Teaching in the synagogue. Luke
4:17-21; Isa. 61:1, 2.
8.
Answering the questioning of the
Jews. Luke 4:22-27.
9.
The escape from an angry mob.
Luke 4:28-30.
10.
Jesus moves to Capernaum.
Matt. 4:13 ; 9:1.
III. Cleansing the Leper
11.
The place of power. Mark 1:35.
12.
The leper healed. Matt. 8:2, 3.
13.
A lesson for us. Mark 1:42.
14.
Christ's command to the leper.
Matt. 8:4.
15.
Jesus avoids publicity. Mark
1:45.
THE LESSON
The Baptist's Death
1. Why did Herod Antipas cast
John into prison? What restrained
Herod from taking the Baptist's life?
What did Herodias want to do? Matt.
14:3-5. Compare Mark 6:17-20.
NOTE.
-"Herod
believed John to be a
prophet of God, and he fully intended to
set him at liberty. But he delayed his pur-
pose from fear of Herodias. Herodias knew
that by direct measures she could never
win Herod's consent to the death of John,
and she resolved to accomplish her purpose
by stratagem."-The
Desire of Ages,
pages
220, 221.
23
2.
With what question did John
send two of his disciples to Jesus?
How did Christ demonstrate the na-
ture of His mission? Matt. 11:2-6.
Compare Luke 7:19-23.
NoTE.—"The works of Christ not only
declared Him to be the Messiah, but showed
in what manner His kingdom was to be
established. . . . Jesus was to do His work,
not with the clash of arms and the over-
turning of thrones and kingdoms, but
through speaking to the hearts of men by
a life of mercy and self-sacrifice. . . . Un-
derstanding more clearly now the nature of
Christ's mission, he [John] yielded himself
to God for life or for death, as should best
serve the interests of the cause he loved."
—The Desire of Ages,
pages 217, 218.
3.
What testimony did Jesus bear
to the work and character of John?
Matt. 11:7-11.
4.
At King Herod's birthday ban-
quet what rash vow did he make?
Matt 14:6, 7; Mark 6:21-23.
5.
What did Salome request? How
did Herod keep his promise? Matt.
14:8-11. Compare Mark 6:24-28.
NoTE.—"For the sake of thousands who
in after years must pass from prison to
death, John was to drink the cup of mar-
tyrdom. As the followers of Jesus should
languish in lonely cells, or perish by the
sword, the rack, or the fagot, apparently
forsaken by God and man, what a stay to
their hearts would be the thought that
John the Baptist, to whose faithfulness
Christ Himself had borne witness, had
passed through a similar experience! . . .
Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow
upon men, fellowship with Christ in His
sufferings is the most weighty trust and
the highest honor."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 224, 225.
6.
What was the effect of this deed
upon Herod? Matt. 14:1, 2.
NoTE.—"Herod's sin was ever before
him. He was constantly seeking to find re-
lief from the accusings of a guilty con-
science. . . . He thought that God had
raised John from the dead, and sent him
forth with still greater power to condemn
sin. He was in constant fear that John
would avenge his death by passing con-
demnation upon him and his house. . . .
The sinner's own thoughts are his accus-
ers; and there can be no torture keener
than the stings of a guilty conscience."—
The Desire of Ages,
page 223.
Jesus at Nazareth
7.
What scripture did Jesus apply
to Himself? Luke 4:17-21; Isa. 61:1, 2.
8.
How did Jesus reveal His knowl-
edge of His fellow townsmen's ques-
tioning? Luke 4:22-27.
NoTE.—"Even the heathen who choose
the right as far as they can distinguish it
are in a more favorable condition than
those who have had great light, and profess
to serve God, but who disregard the light,
and by their daily life contradict their pro-
fession. The words of Jesus to His hear-
ers in the synagogue struck at the root of
their self-righteousness, pressing home upon
them the bitter truth that they had de-
parted from God and forfeited their claim
to be His people."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 239.
9.
How did Jesus escape from
threatened violence? Luke 4:28-30.
Compare Ps. 34:7; 91:11, 12.
NoTE.—"The heavenly messengers who
had been by His side in the synagogue
were with Him in the midst of that mad-
[24]
UNCLEANNESS VANISHES AT THE ..
..tra
TOUCH OF THE SAVIOUR.
3Q56-7 .
dened throng. They shut Him in from
His enemies, and conducted Him to a place
of safety. . . . So, in all ages, angels have
been near to Christ's faithful followers.
. . . From what dangers, seen and unseen,
we have been preserved through the inter-
position of the angels, we shall never know,
until in the light of eternity we see the
providences of God."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 240.
NorE.—"Capernaum itself was well
adapted to be the center of the Saviour's
work. Being on the highway from Damas-
cus to Jerusalem and Egypt, and to the
Mediterranean Sea, it was a great thorough-
fare of travel. People from many lands
passed through the city, or tarried for rest
in their journeyings to and fro. Here Jesus
could meet all nations and all ranks, the
rich and great as well as the poor and
lowly, and His lessons would be carried
to other countries and into many house-
holds. Investigation of the prophecies
would thus be excited, attention would be
directed to the Saviour, and His mission
would be brought before the world."—
The Desire of Ages,
pages 252, 253.
Cleansing the Leper
•
11.
What habit of Jesus' reveals
the secret of His power? Mark 1:35.
NoTE.—"He that wishes to enjoy reli-
gion will seek a place of secret prayer in
the morning. If that is omitted, all will go
wrong. Our piety will wither. The world
will fill our thoughts. Temptations will be
strong. . . . This will be found to be true,
universally,
that the pious feelings—the re-
ligious enjoyment through the day, will be
according to the state of the heart in the
morning; and can therefore, be measured'
by our faithfulness in early secret prayer."
—Albert Barnes,
Notes on the New Testa-
ment,
comment on Mark 1:35-37.
12.
How was a leper's faith
re-
warded?
Matt. 8:2, 3.
N0TE.—"When this man came to Jesus,
he was 'full of leprosy.' Its deadly poison
permeated his whole body. . . . Thus it is
with the leprosy of sin—deep-rooted,
deadly, impossible to be cleansed by hu-
man power. 'The whole head is sick, and
the whole heart faint. From the sole of
the foot even unto the head there is no
soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises,
and putrefying sores.' . . . Whoever will
fall at His feet, saying in faith, 'Lord, if
Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean,'
shall hear the answer, 'I will; be thou
clean.'
"—The Ministry of
.
Healing,
page 70.
13.
What lesson may be learned
from the promptness of the healing
of the leper ? Mark 1:42.
NoTE.—"In some instances of healing, Je-
sus did not at once grant the blessing
sought. But in the case of leprosy no
sooner was the appeal made than it was
granted. When we pray for earthly bless-
ings, the answer to our prayer may be de-
layed, or God may give us something other
than we ask; but not so when we ask for
10. Following His rejection at Naz-„..
areth, what city did Jesus choose as
the center of His activities? Matt. 4:
13; 9:1.
26 I
deliverance from sin. It is His will to
cleanse us from sin, to make us His chil-
dren, and to enable us to live a holy life."
—The Ministry of Healing,
page 70.
14. What command did Jesus give
the cleansed leper? Matt. 8:4. Com-
pare Lev. 14:1-7.
NOTE.—"He longed to reach the priests
and teachers who were shut in by preju-
dice and tradition. He left untried no
means by which they might be reached. In
sending the healed leper to the priests, He
gave them a testimony calculated to disarm
their prejudices. The Pharisees had as-
serted that Christ's teaching was opposed
to the law which God had given through
Moses; but His direction to the cleansed
leper to present an offering according to the
law disproved this charge. It was sufficient
testimony for all who were willing to be
convinced. . . . The same priests who con-
demned the leper to banishment certified
his cure. This sentence, publicly pronounced
and registered, was a standing testimony for
Christ."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 265.
15. What effect did his failure to
keep silent have upon the labors of
our Lord? Mark 1:45.
NOTE.—"Lest His own stiller ministry
should be hindered by the untimely con-
course of multitudes, drawn to Him in the
hope of worldly benefits (as on this very
occasion actually did occur, Mark 1:45) ; or
in the expectation of seeing wonderful
things; or it might be, lest the enmity of
His foes should be prematurely roused by
the fame of His mighty deeds. . . . Lest,
if a rumor of these things went before Him,
the priests at Jerusalem, out of envy, out
of a desire to depreciate what the Lord had
wrought, might deny that the man had
ever been a leper, or else that he was now
truly cleansed."—R. C. Trench,
Notes on
the Miracles of Our Lord,
11th ed., pp. 236,
237.
Lesson 8, for August 25, 1956
Calling the Twelve
LESSON SCRIPTURES: Matt. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; 2:14-22; 3:13-19; Luke 5:1-11,
27-35.
MEMORY VERSE: "And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers
of men." Matt. 4:19.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 244-251, 272-280, 290-297; Sabbath
School Lesson Helps in "Review and Herald" of August 9; "The Seventh-day
Adventist Bible Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
❑
Monday: Ques. 5-7.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 8-10.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 11-13.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
0
0
[261
Lesson Outline:
I. The Call by the Sea
1.
Teaching from a boat. Luke 5:1-3.
2.
Launching into the deep. Luke
5:4, 5.
3.
The miraculous draft of fish. Luke
5:6, 7.
4.
Peter's reaction. Luke 5:8, 9.
5.
Fishers of men. Matt. 4:18-21;
Mark 1 :16-20 ; Luke 5:10.
6.
Forsaking all for Christ. Matt.
4:20, 22.
II. The Call of Levi-Matthew
7. Jesus calls a publican. Matt. 9:9.
8.
Matthew's immediate response.
Luke 5:27, 28.
9.
Jesus eats with publicans. Luke
5:29-35.
III. Ordaining the Twelve
10.
Sacrificial nature of discipleship.
Matt. 8:19-22 ; Luke 9:57-62.
11.
Jesus prays all night. Luke 6:12.
12.
The twelve apostles ordained.
Luke 6:13-16.
13.
Founding the church. Mark
3:14, 15.
THE LESSON
The Call by the Sea
1.
What new position did Jesus
take from which to teach the people?
Luke 5:1-3.
2.
How did Peter respond to
Christ's second suggestion? Luke 5:
4, 5.
3.
As the men obeyed the command
of Christ, what miraculous results
followed? Luke 5:6, 7.
NoxE.-"Night was the only favorable
time for fishing with nets in the clear wa-
ters of the lake." "During that sad night
on the lake, when they were separated from
Christ, the disciples were pressed hard by
unbelief, and weary with fruitless toil. But
His presence kindled their faith, and
brought them joy and success. So it is
with us; apart from Christ, our work is
fruitless, and it is easy to distrust and mur-
mur. But when He is near, and we labor
under His direction, we rejoice in the evi-
dence of His power."-The
Desire of Ages,
pages 246, 249.
4.
How did this manifestation of
divine power affect Peter? Luke 5:
8, 9.
NorE.-"God manifests Himself to His
future prophet, or apostle, or other mes-
senger, as He had never done before; and
in the light of this manifestation the man
recognizes his own weakness and insuf-
ficiency and guilt, as he had never done
before. He exclaims, 'I am slow of speech
and of a slow tongue,' or 'I cannot speak,
for I am a child,' or 'I am a man of un-
clean lips,' or, as here, 'I am a sinful man;'
falls on his face, sets his mouth in the dust,
takes the shoes from off his feet; and then
out of the depth of this humiliation he rises
up another man, an instrument fitted for
the work of God."-Trench,
Notes on the
Miracles of Our Lord,
page 143.
5.
To what greater work did Je-
sus now call these humble fishermen?
Matt. 4:18-21; Mark 1:16-20; Luke
5:10.
NoTE.-"Jesus chose unlearned fishermen
because they had not been schooled in the
traditions and erroneous customs of their
time. They were men of native ability, and
they were humble and teachable,-men
27 ]
whom He could educate for His work.. . .
It is not the highest work of education to
communicate knowledge merely, but to im-
part that vitalizing energy which is re-
ceived through the contact of mind with
mind, and soul with soul. It is only life
that can beget life. What privilege, then,
was theirs who for three years were in
daily contact with that divine life from
which has flowed every life-giving im-
pulse that has blessed the world!"—The
Desire of Ages,
page 250.
6.
How did the disciples respond
to the Master's call? Matt. 4:20, 22.
Compare Luke 5:11.
NoTE.—"At the moment of success,
when the nets were filled with fish, and
the impulses of the old life were strongest,
Jesus asked the disciples at the sea to leave
all for the work of the gospel. So every
soul is tested as to whether the desire for
temporal good or for fellowship with Christ
is strongest. Principle is always exacting.
No man can succeed in the service of God
unless his whole heart is in the work and
he counts all things but loss for the ex-
cellency of the knowledge of Christ. No
man who makes any reserve can be the
disciple of Christ, much less can he be His
cblaborer."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 273.
The Call of Levi-Matthew
7.
Who was next called to the serv-
ice of Christ, and from what despised
class? Matt. 9:9.
NOTE.—"He [Matthew] was a publican,
a taxgatherer. The whole class was hated
by the Jews as symbols and instruments of
a foreign rule; they returned the hatred
and contempt with which they were re-
garded; they exacted more than was ap-
pointed them; they were guilty, most of
them perhaps, of oppression, of fraud, of
unjust accusation, But if all were hated,
Hebrew publicans must, have been looked
upon with an especial
hatred."—Pulpit
Commentary,
on Matt. 9:9-17.'
"The Pharisees had judged Matthew ac-
cording to his employment, but Jesus saw
THE 'SINNER
S
AND THE 'RIGHTEOUS" MAN
--WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
_
3056•13
HWPA
in this man a heart open for the reception
of truth. Matthew had listened to the
Saviour's teaching. As the convicting
Spirit of God revealed his sinfulness, he
longed to seek help from Christ; but he
was accustomed to the exclusiveness of the
rabbis, and had no thought that this Great
Teacher would notice
him."—The Desire
of Ages,
page 272.
8.
What was Matthew's response
to the Master's invitation? Luke 5:
27, 28.
NOTE.—"Matthew `left all, rose up, and
followed Him.' There was no hesitation, no
questioning, no thought of the lucrative
business to be exchanged for poverty and
hardship. It was enough for him that he
was to be with Jesus, that he might listen
to His words, and unite with Him in His
work."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 273.
9.
How did Christ defend His pres-
ence
at
a publican feast? Luke 5:
29-35.
Ordaining the Twelve
10.
With what words did one disci-
ple seek a place in the inner circle of
[28]
disciples? How did Jesus seek to re-
veal to him the sacrificial experience
involved? Matt. 8:19-22; Luke 9:
57-62.
NoTE.—"While Jesus was preparing the
disciples for their ordination, one who had
not been summoned urged his presence
among them. It was Judas Iscariot, a man
who professed to be a follower of Christ.
He now came forward, soliciting a place in
this inner circle of disciples. With great
earnestness and apparent sincerity he de-
clared, 'Master, I will follow Thee whither-
soever Thou goest.' Jesus neither repulsed
nor welcomed him, but uttered only the
mournful words: 'The foxes have holes,
and the birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay His
head.' Matt. 8:19, 20. Judas believed Jesus
to be the Messiah; and by joining the apos-
tles, he hoped to secure a high position in
the new - kingdom. . ... He was of com-
manding appearance, a man of keen dis-
cernment and executive ability, and they
[the disciples] commended him to Jesus
as one who would greatly assist Him in
His work. . . . If He had repulsed Judas,
they would, in their own minds, have ques-
tioned the wisdom of their Ma
ster. The
after history of Judas would show, them
the danger of allowing any worldly con-
sideration to have weight in deciding the
fitness of men for the work of God."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 293, 294.
11. Before choosing the leaders of
the church, what preparation did Je-
suS make? Luke 6:12.
NaTE.
-
-
a
Alone upon a mountain near the
Sea of Galilee, Jesus had spent all night in
prayer for these chosen ones. At the dawn
He called them to Him, and, with words of
prayer and instruction, laid His hands
upon their heads in benediction, setting
them apart to the gospel
work."—Thoughts
From the Mount of Blessing,
pages 12-14.
12.
Name the Twelve whom Jesus
ordained to be apostles. Luke 6:13-16.
NoTE.—Perhaps no more important list
of names has ever been compiled. With
one change those names will be blazoned on
the foundation stones of the eternal City
'of God. They were humble men, obscure,
unlearned by human standards, mostly poor
in this world's goods, with widely differing
dispositions and marked defects of charac-
ter. Under the molding influence of asso-
ciation with the Master Teacher, trans-
formed by the Spirit of God, linking their
lives to eternal issues, these men were to set
in motion forces that- would reshape the
world for time and eternity.
13.
For what purpose were the
Twelve chosen and ordained?
'
Mark
3:14, 15.
NOTE.—"The first step was now to be
taken ip the organization of the church that
after Christ's departure was to be His rep-
resentative on earth. . . . Jesus had called
His disciples that He might send them
forth as His witnesses, to declare to the
world what they had seen and heard of
Him. Their office was the most important
to which human beings had ever been
called, and was second only to that of
Christ Himself. They were to be workers
together with God for the saving of the
world."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 291.
LESSON QUARTERLIES FOR THE BLIND
The senior Sabbath-school lessons, slightly condensed, are
published each quarter in Braille and supplied free to• the blind
upon request.
Address:
The Christian Record Benevolent Associa-
tion, Box 66, Lincoln 6, Nebraska.
En 3
Lesson 9, for September 1, 1956
Commission and Witness of the Apostles
LESSON SCRIPTURES: Matthew 10; 12:22-45; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 11:14-23.
MEMORY VERSE: "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I
confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny
Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven."
Matt. 10:32, 33.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 321-324, 337-341, 349-363; Sabbath
School Lesson Helps in "Review and Herald" of August 16; "The Seventh-day
Adventist Bible Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-3.
❑
Monday: Ques. 4-7.
❑
Tuesday: Ques. 8-11.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 12-14.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday: Review.
Check Here
0
0
0
Lesson Outline:
I. The Disciples Commissioned
1.
Sending forth the Twelve. Matt.
10:5-8.
2.
Christ instructs His disciples.
Matt. 10:9-16.
3.
Prepares them to meet opposition.
Matt. 10:17-31.
II. Reward of Faithful Testimony
and Labor
4.
Confessing Christ before men.
Matt. 10:32-39.
5.
Kindness to Christ's messengers
rewarded. Matt. 10:40-42.
6.
Rest after labor. Mark 6:30-32.
7.
Christ's gracious invitation to bur-
den bearers. Matt. 11:28-30.
III. The Disciples Witness Christ's
Power and Authority
8.
Demoniac restored to sanity.
Mark 5:1-8, 15.
9.
Testimony of the demoniacs. Mark
5:18-20; Matt. 8:28-34.
10.
Blind and dumb man healed. Matt.
12:22, 23.
IV. The Disciples Witness Christ's
Power and Authority
11.
Refuting false accusations of the
Pharisees. Matt. 12:24-30.
12.
He warns them against rejecting
the Holy Spirit. Matt. 12:31, 32.
13.
Evil generation rebuked for vain
words. Matt. 12:34-37.
14.
Pharisees condemned for unbelief
and impenitence. Matt. 12:38-45.
THE LESSON
The Disciples Commissioned
1.
As Jesus sent out the twelve
apostles on their first missionary tour,
what power was bestowed upon them,
and what were they to do? Matt.
10:5-8.
-•,
2. What general instructions were
given to them? Matt. 10:9-16. Com-
pare Mark 6:8-11; Luke 9:3-5.
NOTE.-"
'Be ye therefore wise as serpents,
and -harmless as doves.' Christ. Himself
[ 80 ]
did not suppress one word of truth, but He
spoke it always in love. He exercised the
greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind atten-
tion in His intercourse with the people.
He was never rude, never needlessly spoke
a severe word, never gave needless pain to
a sensitive soul. He did not censure human
weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypoc-
risy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were
in His voice as He uttered His scathing
rebukes. . . . Every soul was precious in
His
eyes."—The Desire of Ages,
page 353.
3.
What did our Lord say regard-
ing opposition and persecution? What
assurances were given of divine aid?
Matt. 10:17-31. Compare Luke 12:
4-7.
NOTE.—"A
few weak men were sent to
grapple with all the might of the heathen
world. Their case seemed desperate; suc-
cess seemed impossible. But it was the
Lord who had sent them; here was their
hope and strength."—Pulpit
Commentary,
on Matt. 10:16-23.
Reward of Faithful Testimony
and Labor
4.
What has Christ promised to do
for those who truly confess Him?
Matt. 10:32-39.
NoTE.—"Men may deny Christ by evil-
speaking, by foolish talking, by words that
are untruthful or unkind. They may deny
Him by shunning life's burdens, by the
pursuit of sinful pleasure. They may deny
Him by conforming to the world, by un-
courteous behavior, by the love of their
own opinions, by justifying self, by cher-
ishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwell-
ing in darkness. In all these ways they de-
clare that Christ is not in
them."—The De-
sire of Ages,
page 357.
5.
How does our Lord regard even
the smallest act of kindness to His
disciples? Matt. 10:40-42.
Nara.—"Such an address, under such cir-
cumstances, was assuredly never given be-
fore or since. To propose to found a king-
dom by the services of men, who, as their
reward, would meet only shame, torture,
and death; to claim from them an absolute
devotion, from mere personal reverence
and love, with no prospects of reward ex-
cept those of another world; and to launch
an enterprise thus supported only by moral
influences, in the face of the opposition of
all the authority of the day, simply to win
men to righteousness by the display of pure,
unselfish devotion to their good, astounds
us by the sublime grandeur of the concep-
tion."—Cunningham Geikie,
The Life and
Words of Christ, vol.
2, p. 182 (ch. 43).
6.
As the disciples returned from
their missionary tour, what invitation
did the Master give? To what place
did they retire? Mark 6:30-32. Com-
pare Luke 9:10:
NOTE.-"It
is not wise to be always un-
der the strain of work and excitement, even
in ministering to men's spiritual needs; for
in this way personal piety is neglected, and
the powers of mind and soul and body are
overtaxed. . . . As activity increases and
men become successful in doing any work
for God, there is danger of trusting to hu-
man plans and methods. There is a ten-
dency to pray less and to have less faith.
Like the disciples, we are in danger of los-
ing sight of our dependence on God, and
seeking to make a savior of our activity."
—The Desire of Ages,
page 362.
7.
What gracious invitation does
Jesus extend to burden bearers? Matt.
11:28-30.
The Disciples Witness Christ's
Power and Authority
8.
What demonstration did the
Saviour give of His willingness to de-
liver those controlled by satanic spirits
when they cry to Him? Mark 5:1-8,
15.
[31
]
9.
When the restored demoniac
sought to accompany his benefactor,
what did Christ bid him do? Mark
5:18-20; Matt. 8:28-34.
NOTE
-
.—"The two restored demoniacs
were the first missionaries whom Christ
sent to preach the gospel in the region of
Decapolis. For a few moments only these
men had been privileged to hear the teach-
ings of Christ. . . . But they bore in their
own persons the evidence that Jesus was
the Messiah. They could tell what they
knew; what they themselves had seen, and
heard, and felt of the power of Christ. . . .
This is the witness for which our Lord
calls, and for want of which the world is
perishing."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 340.
10.
Describe the condition of a
man brought to Jesus. What mani-
festation of divine power was given?
Matt. 12:22, 23. Compare Luke 11:14.
Nora.—"
'He was casting out a devil, and
it was dumb.' This was His work. As the
Redeemer, He was ever intent on setting
the human nature free from its manifold
evil by acting on the hidden cause of the
evil. It is to be noted that the dumbness is
traced to a demon—to the possession of the
inner nature by a spirit whose fettering of
the man was evidenced in the fettering of
the organ of speech. 'To cure sorrow by
curing sin' is the special service of Christ's
church."—Pulpit Commentary,
on Luke
11:14.
The Disciples Witness Christ's
Power and Authority
11.
To offset the profound effect of
this miracle, what charge did the
scribes and Pharisees make, and how
did Christ refute their accusation?
Matt. 12:24-30. Compare Luke 11:
15-23.
NorE.—"It is not God, that blinds the
eyes of men or hardens their hearts. He
NOT WHAT WE SAY, BUT WHAT
WE WANT 15 OUR REAL PRAYER.
31758-0
sends them light to correct their errors, and
to lead them in safe paths; it is by the re-
jection of this light that the . eyes are
blinded and the heart hardened. Often the
process is gradual, and almost impercepti-
ble. Light comes to the soul through God's
word, through His servants, or by the
direct agency of His Spirit; but when one
ray of light is disregarded, there is a par-
tial benumbing of the spiritual perceptions,
and the second revealing of light is less
clearly discerned. So the darkness in-
creases, until it is night in the soul. Thus
it had been with these Jewish leaders."—
The Desire of Ages,
pages 322, 323.
12.
What warning did Jesus give
concerning speaking against the Holy
Spirit? Matt. 12:31, 32.
NorE.—"Christ told them plainly that in
attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to
Satan, they were cutting themselves off
from the fountain of blessing. . . . What-
ever the sin, if the soul repents and believes,
the guilt is washed away in the blood of
Christ; but he who' rejects the work of the
Holy Spirit is placing himself where re-
pentance and faith cannot come to him.
It is by the Spirit that God works upon the
heart; when men willfully reject the Spirit,
and declare it to be from Satan, they cut
off the channel by which God 'can com-
municate with them. When the Spirit is
finally rejected, there is no more 'that 'God
[ 82 ]
can do for the soul."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 321, 322.
13. To what source did Jesus trace
the speech of men, and what warn-
ing did He give against idle and evil
words? Matt. 12:34-37.
NoTE.—"Closely connected with Christ's
warning in regard to the sin against the
Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and
evil words. . . . Words are more than an
indication of character; they have power
to react on the character. Men are influ-
enced by their own words. Often under a
momentary impulse, prompted by Satan,
they give utterance to jealousy or evil sur-
mising, expressing that which they do not
really believe; but the expression reacts on
the thoughts. . . . It is dangerous to utter
a word of doubt, dangerous to question and
criticize divine light. The habit of careless
and irreverent criticism reacts upon the
character, in fostering irreverence and un-
belief. Many a man indulging this habit
has gone on unconscious of danger, until he
was ready to criticize and reject the work
of the Holy Spirit."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 323.
14. In what strong language did
Jesus condemn the Pharisees for their
unbelief and impenitence? Matt. 12:
38-45.
NoTE.—"It is not only by resistance but
by neglect that the soul is destroyed. . . .
We may leave off many bad habits, for the
time we may part company with Satan;
but without. a vital connection with God,
through the surrender of ourselves to Him
moment by moment, we shall be overcome.
. . . 'The last state of that man is worse
than the first' . . . There are none so
hardened as those who have slighted the in-
vitation of mercy, and done despite to the
Spirit of grace. The most common mani-
festation of the sin against the Holy Spirit
is in persistently slighting Heaven's invi-
tation to repent."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 323, 324.
Lesson 10, for September 8, 1956
The Sermon on the Mount
LESSON SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5 to 7.
MEMORY VERSE: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to
you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matt. 7:12.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 298-314; "Thoughts From the Mount of
Blessing;" Sabbath
.
School Lesson Helps in "Review and. Herald" of August 23;
"The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 13-15.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-3.
❑
Thursdays: Read Study Helps
Monday: Ques: 4-7.
❑
assignment.
0
Tuesday: Ques. 8-12.
❑
Friday: Review.
0
I
33 3
Lesson Outline:
I. The Beatitudes
1.
The subjects of Messiah's kingdom.
Matt. 5:1-9.
2.
The blessing on the persecuted.
Matt. 5:10-12 ; Luke 6:22, 23.
3.
The symbols of the church. Matt.
5:13-16.
II. Jesus Magnifies the Law
4.
The law eternal. Matt. 5:17-19.
5.
The spirituality of the law. Matt.
5:20-24, 38-48.
6.
The seventh commandment inter-
preted. Matt. 5:27-32.
7.
The taking of the oath. Matt.
5:33-37.
III. The Motive in Service
8.
A guiding principle. Matt. 6:1-5,
16-18.
9.
A lesson on prayer. Matt. 6:6-15.
10.
Assurance of answered prayer.
Matt. 7:7-11.
11.
Undivided service. Matt. 6:19-34.
12.
Judging. Matt. 7:1-5.
IV. The Two Ways
13.
The broad and narrow ways.
Matt. 7:13, 14.
14.
The test of the true and the false.
Matt. 7:15-23.
15.
The hiarers and doers. Matt.
7:24-29.
THE LESSON
by your, side, even as He was with the
faithful three in Babylon. Those who love
their Redeemer will rejoice at every op-
portunity of sharing with Him humiliation
and reproach. The love they bear their
Lord, makes suffering for His sake sweet."
-Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,
page 50.
3. To what two things did Jesus
liken the Christian's responsibility to
the world? Matt. 5:13-16.
NOTE.
-"Jesus
did not bid the disciples,
`Strive to
make
your light shine;' He said,
`Let
it shine.' If Christ is dwelling in the
heart, it is impossible to conceal the light
of His presence. If those who profess to be
followers of Christ are not the light of the
world, it is because the vital power has left
them; if they have no light to give, it is
because they have no connection with the
Source of
light."-Thoughts From the
Mount of Blessing,
pages 66, 67.
The Beatitudes
1.
What seven traits of character
call forth the blessings of the king-
dom? Matt. 5:1-9.
NOTE.-"Christ
disappointed the hope of
worldly greatness. In the Sermon on the
Mount He sought to undo the work that
had been wrought by false education, and
to give His hearers a right .conception of
His kingdom and of His own character.
. . . Without combating their ideas,of the
kingdom of God, He told them the condi-
tions of entrance therein, leaving them to
draw their own conclusions as to its nature.
. . . We no less than they need to learn the
foundation principles of the kingdom of
God."-The Desire of Ages,
page 299.
2.
How is every disciple of Christ
to relate himself to trial and persecu-
tion? Matt. 5:10-12; Luke 6:22, 23.
NoTE.-"While the Lord has not prom-
ised His people exemption from trials, He
has promised that which is far better. He
has said, 'As thy days, so shall thy
strength be.' My grace is sufficient for
thee; for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.' If you are called to go through
the fiery furnace for His sake, Jesus will be
Jesus Magnifies the Law
4. What did Jesus teach concern-
ing the law? How serious is the vio-
lation of any one of the Ten Com-
mandments? Matt. 5:17-19. Compare
Luke 16:17.
[ 34 1
NOTE.—"He
came not to destroy.
They
must not misunderstand the purpose of His
teaching. The Old Testament is not con-
trary to the New; both speak of Christ.
The commandments are as binding now
upon the Christian conscience as when
they were first delivered amid the thunders
of Mount Sinai. 'We establish the law,' says
the apostle of faith (Rom. iii.31). 'No
Christian man is free from the obedience
of the commandments which are called
moral.' . .
"He came to fulfill.
He fulfilled the
righteousness of the law. He exhibited it
perfectly in His own most holy life.. . .
He fulfilled the doctrine of the law, bring-
ing out as He did the deep spiritual mean-
ing of its teaching."—Pulpit
Commentary,
on Matt. 5:17-48.
5. How did Jesus magnify the
sixth commandment? What great
principle is basic to the fulfilling of
the law? Matt. 5:20-24, 38-48. Com-
pare Isa. 42:21.
NoTa.—"The traditional interpretation
confined the application of the command-
ment to the actual crime of murder. The
Lord shows that it extends to sinful anger.
'Whosoever hateth his brother is a mur-
derer;' he is a murderer in heart and will.
In the sight of him who searcheth the
hearts, the evil thought willfully harbored
and brooded on, the wicked wish, the un-
just, wrathful word, is as guilty as the
wicked deed. 'I say unto you;' the Lord
speaks with authority. He gave the law at
first on Mount Sinai; He interprets it
now on the mount of the beatitudes."—
Pulpit Commentary,
on Matt. 5:17-48.
6.
How did our Lord reveal the
deep spiritual nature of the seventh
commandment? How does He apply
this commandment to divorce and re-
marriage? Matt. 5:27-32.
NOTE.—"The traditional interpretation
confined the commandment to the evil
deed; the Lord extends it to the sinful
thought. The unlawful desire, consented
to and kept before the mind, is equally
guilty with the unclean act. . . . We are
the temples of God the Holy Ghost; to
bring unclean thoughts into that most
sacred presence is a fearful sin, an awful sac-
rilege. Then strike at the beginnings of sin,
the thought, the look; strike, and spare not.
Such watchfulness may imply very strict
and painful self-denial. Better to deny our-
selves now than to be cast out at the • last ;
better to pluck out the right eye, to cut
off the right hand, than to be condemned
at the
last."—Pulpit Commentary,
on Matt.
5:17-48.
"In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus de-
clared plainly that there could., be no dis-
solution of the marriage tie, • except for
unfaithfulness to the marriage vow."—
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,
page
99.
7.
What is the teaching of Christ
with regard to the taking of oaths?
Matt. 5:33-37.
NOTE.—"Our Saviour did not, however,
forbid the use of the judicial oath, in which
God is solemnly called to witness that what
is said is truth, and nothing but the truth.
Jesus Himself, at His trial before the San-
hedrin, did not refuse to testify under
oath. . . . These words condemn all those
meaningless phrases and expletives that
border on profanity. They condemn the
deceptive compliments, the evasion of truth,
E 35
the flattering phrases, the exaggerations, the
misrepresentations in trade, that are current
in society and in the business world."—
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,
pages 104, 105.
The Motive in Service
8.
What motive should govern our
giving, our praying, and our fasting?
What course are we to avoid? Matt.
6:1-5, 16-18.
9.
How does the Master empha-
size the importance of secret prayer?
What simple requests are made in the
Lord's model prayer? Matt. 6:6-15.
Compare Luke 11:1-4.
NorE.—"As one with humanity, He pre-
sents His own ideal of prayer,—words so
simple they may be adopted by the little
child, yet so comprehensive that their sig-
nificance can never be fully grasped by the
greatest minds. We are taught to come to
God with our tribute of thanksgiving, to
make known our wants, to confess our
sins, and to claim His mercy in accordance
with His promise."—Thoughts
From the
Mount of Blessing,
pages 152, 153.
10.
What assurance is given that
our heavenly Father will grant our
petitions? How is His willingness
illustrated? Matt. 7:7-11. Compare
Luke 11:9-13.
11.
How does Jesus emphasize
wholeheartedness in service? What
lesson is drawn from the birds and the
lilies? Matt. 6:19-34.
NorE.—"Worry is blind and cannot dis-
cern the future; but Jesus sees the end
from the beginning. In every difficulty He
has His way prepared to bring relief. •
Our heavenly Father has a •thousand ways
to provide for us of which we know noth-
ing. Those who accept the one principle
of making the service of God supreme, will
find perplexities vanish and a plain path
before their
feet."—The Ministry of Heal-
ing,
page 481.
12.
What evil practice does Jesus
condemn? What should first be done
before we attempt to correct others?
Matt. 7:1-5.
NorE.—"It is one's own lack of the
spirit of forbearance and love that leads
him to make a world of an atom."—
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,
page
180.
"No one has ever been reclaimed from a
wrong position by censure and reproach;
but many have thus been driven from
Christ, and led to seal their hearts against
conviction. A tender spirit, a gentle, win-
ning deportment, may save the erring, and
hide a multitude of
sins."—Ibid.,
pp. 184,
185.
The Two Ways
13.
Describe the difference between
the two roads through life. Matt. 7:
13, 14.
14.
What is said concerning false
prophets? In the judgment day what
will be the sad, experience of many?
Matt. 7:15-23. Compare. Isa. 8:20.
. Nom-9n those churches which he can
bring under his deceptive power, he [Satan]
will make it appear that God's special
blessing is poured out; there will be mani-
fest what is thought to be great religious
interest. . . . Under a religious guise, Satan
will seek to extend his influence over the
Christian world."—The
Great Controversy,
pages 464, 465.
15.
In concluding His notable Ser-
mon on the Mount, what two kinds of
builders did Christ. mention? Matt.
7:24-29.
[ 36 ]
Lesson 11, for September 15, 1956
Christ and the Sabbath
LESSON SCRIPTURES: Matt. 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-16; John
5:1-18.
MEMORY VERSE: "And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sab-
bath." Mark 2:27, 28.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 201-208, 281-289, 315-320; Sabbath
School Lesson Helps in "Review and Herald" of August 30; "The Seventh-day
Adventist Bible Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
survey. 0 Wednesday: Ques.
,
13-16.
❑
Thursday:
Read'Study Helps
❑
assignment.
O
Friday: Review.
Sabbath afternoon: General
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
Monday: Ques. 5-8.
Tuesday: Ques. 9-12.
Check Here
0
Lesson Outline:
I. Proper Sabbath Observance
1.
Plucking
grain on the Sabbath.
Matt. 12:1, 2.
2.
Jesus justifies the act. Matt.
12:3-7; Mark 2:25, 26.
3.
Jesus teaches in the synagogue on
the Sabbath. Luke 4:16;
Mark 1:21.
Ii. Jesus Lord of the Sabbath
4.
Christ made the Sabbath. Matt.
12:8; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16;
Heb. 1:2.
5.
Reasons for the Sabbath institu-
tion.
-
Gen. 2:2, 3 ; Mark 2:27.
6.
The Lord's day. Mark 2:28; Isa.
58:13 ; Rev. 1:10.
III. Healing the Man With the
Withered Hand
7.
The scribes question Jesus. Matt.
12:9, 10.
8. The palsied man healed on the
Sabbath. Matt. 12:11-13.
9.
Enemies seek Jesus' life. Mark
3:6; Luke 6:11.
IV. Healing by the Pool of Bethesda
10. Impotent man healed. John 5:2-9.
11. Jews accuse the man of Sabbath-
breaking. John 5:10.
12. Spiritual significance of healing.
John 5:14.
13. Jews persecute Jesus. John
5:15, 16.
14. Jews accuse Jesus of blasphemy
as well as of Sabbathbreaking.
John 5:17, 18.
V. The Crooked Woman Healed
15. Healed in the synagogue on the
Sabbath day. Luke 13:10-13.
16. Loosed from Satan's chain. Luke
13:14-16.
[37]
THE LESSON
Proper Sabbath Observance
1.
When passing through the grain-
fields on the Sabbath, what act of the
disciples brought criticism from the
Pharisees? Matt. 12:1, 2.
NOTE.—"While
passing through the
fields, the disciples began to gather the
heads of grain, and to eat the kernels after
rubbing them in their hands. . . . To do
this on the Sabbath was held to be an act
of desecration. Not only was the gather-
ing of the grain a kind of reaping, but the
rubbing of it in the hands was a kind
of threshing. Thus, in the opinion of the
rabbis, there was a double offense."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 284.
2.
How did our Lord defend the
conduct of His diiciples? Matt. 12:
3-7; Mark 2:25, 26.
NOTE.—"The
object of God's work in
this world is the redemption of man; there-
fore that which is necessary to be done on
the Sabbath in the accomplishment of this
work is in accord with the Sabbath law.
. . . He , declared that in their blindness
they had mistaken the object of the Sab-
bath. . . . Their many heartless rites could
not supply the lack of that truthful integ-
rity and tender love which will ever charac-
terize the true worshiper of God. . . . It is
the service of love that God values. When
this is lacking, the mere round of ceremony
is an offense to Him. So with the Sab-
bath. It was designed to bring men into
communion with God; but when the mind
was absorbed with wearisome rites, the
object of the Sabbath was thwarted. Its
mere outward observance was a mockery."
—The Desire of Ages,
pages 285, 286.
3.
What was Jesus' custom on the
Sabbath day? Luke 4:16; Mark 1:21.
NorE.—"Moreover, it was His 'custom.'
The habit of waiting upon God at the sanc-
tuary has thus the highest warrant. In this,
as in all else, our Lord is the perfect
Example."—Pulpit
Commentary,
on Luke
4:16-21.
Jesus Lord of the Sabbath
4.
How did Jesus assert His au-
thority regarding Sabbath observ-
ance? On what great fact was this
claim based? Matt. 12:8; John 1:1-3;
Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2.
Nozz.—Speaking of Jesus, John declares,
"All things were made by Him, and with-
out Him was not anything made that was
made." John 1:3. Jesus Himself says, "The
Sabbath was made." He was the active
agent of the Father in the creation of all
things. The unity of Father and Son in
creation is indicated in the use of the plural
in Genesis 1:26, "God said, Let Us make
man." The Hebrew word here translated
"God" is the plural, "Elohim."
5.
When, why, and for whom was
the Sabbath made? Gen.
2:2, 3; Mark
2:27.
NOTE.—"In Eden, God set up the memo-
rial of His work of creation, in placing
His blessing upon the seventh day. The
Sabbath was committed to Adam, the fa-
ther and representative of the whole hu-
man family. Its observance was to be an
act of grateful acknowledgment, on the part
of all who should dwell upon the earth, that
God was their Creator and their rightful
Sovereign; that they were the work of His
hands, and the subjects of His authority."
—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 48.
6.
In the light of the foregoing
facts, which day is the Lord's day?
Mark
2:28; Isa. 58:13; Rev. 1:10.
Healing the Man With the
Withered Hand
7.
What question did the Pharisees
ask Jesus in the synagogue? For what
purpose? Matt. 12:9, 10.
38
,
.
NOT THE WATER OF BETHESDA,
BuT THE WATER OF LIFE.
8.
What did Jesus teach about heal-
ing on the Sabbath? What did He
then do? Matt. 12:11-13. Compare
Mark 3:3-5; Luke 6:8-10.
NorE.—"Rather than violate their tradi-
tions, they would leave a man to suffer,
while they would relieve a brute because of
the loss to the owner if it were neglected.
Thus greater care was shown for a dumb
animal than for man. . . . This illustrates
the working of all false religions. They origi-
nate in man's desire to exalt himself
above God, but they result in degrading
man below the brute. . . . The gospel
places a high value upon humanity as the
purchase of the blood of Christ. . . . When
Jesus turned upon the Pharisees with the
-
question whether it was lawful on the
Sabbath day to do good or to do evil, to
save life or to kill, He confronted them
with their own wicked purposes. . . .
"In the healing of the withered hand,
Jesus condemned the custom of the Jews,
and left the fourth commandment standing
as God had given it. 'It is lawful to do well
on the Sabbath days,' He declared. By
sweeping away the senseless restrictions of
the Jews, Christ honored the Sabbath,
while those who complained of Him were
dishonoring God's holy
day."—The Desire
of Ages,
pages 286, 287.
9.
How were the enemies of Jesus
affected? Mark 3:6; Luke 6:11.
11.
Why did the Jews find fault
with the man who was healed? John
5:10.
NOTE.—"The Jews had so perverted the
law that they made it a yoke of boridage.
Their meaningless requirements had become
a byword among other nations. Especially
was the Sabbath hedged in by all manner
of senseless restrictions. It was not
them
a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honor-
able. The scribes and Pharisees had made
its observance an intolerable burden."—
The Desire of Ages,
page 204.
12.
How did Jesus reveal that His
act of healing was as much a spiritual
work as a physical? John 5:14.
NorE.—The Pharisees and Herodians
were bitter enemies, yet they united to seek
the life of Jesus because He
set
aside their
human traditions concerning the Sabbath.
So in our day Catholic and Protestant, in
spite of their differences, will unite in bit-
ter opposition to those who set aside their
man-made traditions and honor the true
Sabbath.
Healing by the Pool of Bethesda
10. What miracle did Jesus per-
form by the pool of Bethesda on the
14. How did Jesus answer the Jews,
Sabbath day? John 5:2-9.
and with what results? John 5:17, 18.
89
NOTE.—Jesus wanted the man to 'know
that he was cleansed from his sins as well
as cured of his illness. Healing of body and
soul went together in the ministry of Jesus.
13. What experience came to Je-
sus when the man revealed who his
benefactor was? John 5:15, 16.
NorE.—"Jesus claimed equal rights with
God in doing a work equally sacred, and of
the same character with that which en-
gaged the Father in heaven. But the Phari-
sees were still more incensed. He had not
only broken the law, according to their
understanding, but in calling God 'His own
Father' had declared Himself equal with
God. John 5:18,
R.V."—The Desire of
Ages,
page 207.
The Crooked Woman Healed
15. On another Sabbath day whom
did Jesus
see
in the synagogue? What
did He do for her? Luke 13:10-13.
16. How did Jesus again reveal the
spiritual significance of His healings?
Luke 13:14-16.
NarE.—Again Jesus emphasizes His mis-
sion of freeing souls from the bondage of
Satan and illustrated again that "It is law-
ful to do well on the Sabbath days."
Lesson 12, for September 22, 1956
Vain Traditions Refuted
LESSON SCRIPTURES: Matt. 15:1-20, 29-39; Mark 7:1-13.
MEMORY VERSE: "But
in
vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the com-
mandments of men." Matt. 15:9.
STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 395-398; Sabbath School Lesson Helps
in "Review and Herald" of September 6; "The Seventh-day Adventist Bible
Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 12-14.
0
Sunday: Ques. 1-3.
❑
Thursday: Read Study Helps
Monday: Ques. 4-7.
❑
assignment.
0
Tuesday: Ques. 8-11.
❑
Friday: Review.
0
Lesson Outline:
I. Pharisaical Customs
1.
Pharisees find fault with Christ's
disciples. Mark 7:1,2.
2.
Holding tradition of the elders.
Mark 7:3, 4.
3.
Pharisees question nonconformity
of the disciples. Mark 7:5.
II. Christ Rebukes the Pharisees
4. He quotes the prophet Isaiah.
Mark 7:6.
5.
Their vain worship. Mark
7 :7 ;
Matt. 15:7-9.
6.
Their rejection of commandments
of God in favor of tradition.
Mark 7:8, 9.
7.
The fifth commandment cited as ,
an example. Mark 7:10-13.
III. Causes of Soul Defilement
8. Christ's teaching concerning de-
filement. Matt. 15:10, 11.
(401
9.
Denounces the blind leaders.
Matt. 15:12-14.
10.
Source of defilment explained to
disciples. Matt. 15:15-20.
11.
Pharisees likened unto "whited
sepulchers." Matt. 23 :25-28.
IV. Infernal Cleansing Required
12.
Need of a heart work. Luke 6:45.
13.
The new-covenant experience.
Heb. 10:16, 22.
14.
The psalmist's prayer. Ps. 5.1:10;
19:14.
THE LESSON
Pharisaical Customs
1.
Concerning what did the Phari-
sees find fault with Christ's disciples?
Mark 7:1, 2.
NOTE.—"The ground of complaint was
His disregard of the traditional precepts that
encumbered the law of God. These were
professedly designed to guard the observ-
ance of the law, but they were regarded as
more sacred than the law itself. When they
came in collision with the commandments
given from Sinai, preference was given to
the rabbinical precepts. . . .
"Christ and His disciples did not observe
these ceremonial washings, and the spies
made this neglect the ground of their ac-
cusation. They did not, however, make a
direct attack on Christ, but came to Him
with criticism of His disciples. In the
presence of the multitude they said, 'Why
do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of
the elders? for they wash not their hands
when they eat bread.'
"—The Desire of
Ages,
pages 395, 396.
2.
What were some of the tradi-
tions held by the Jews? Mark 7:3, 4.
NOTE.—"A lifetime was hardly enough
to learn the rabbinical precepts. . . . Their
spies, and, perhaps, themselves, had care-
fully gathered evidence whether Jesus and
His disciples observed the traditions, and
carried them out with the minuteness of a
recognized religious duty ; whether He and
they dipped their hands duly before eating;
whether they held them up or down in do-
ing so; whether they wetted them to the
elbows or to the knuckles, or wetted only
the finger tips, as the school of Schammai
prescribed for certain cases; and they had
found, to their horror, that neither He nor
His disciples washed the
ir hands thus cere-
monially at all."—Cunningham Geikie,
The
Life and Words of Christ,
vol. 2, p. 207
(ch. 44).
3.
What pointed question' did the
Pharisees ask Jesus? Mark 7:5. '
Christ Rebukes the Pharisees
4.
In answering them, what prophet
did Jesus quote? Mark 7:6.
NOTE.—" 'Ye hypocrites,' He said, ad-
dressing the wily spies, 'well did Esaias
prophesy of you, saying, This people draw-
eth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and
honoreth Me with their lips; but their
heart is far from Me. But in vain they do
worship Me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.' The words of
Christ were an arraignment of the whole
system of Pharisaism. He declared that by
placing their requirements above the divine
precepts the rabbis were setting themselves
above
God."—The Desire of Ages,
page 397.
5.
What strong word did He use to
characterize their worship? Mark 7:7;
Matt. 15:7-9.
NOTE.—"The priests and Pharisees
thought they were doing great things as
teachers, by putting their own interpreta-
tion upon the word of God; but Christ said
of them, 'Ye know not the Scriptures, nei-
ther the power of God.' He charged them
with the guilt of 'teaching for doctrines
[ 41 ]
THE SHARP WEAPON OF
A
VICIOUS TONGUE CAN WOUND
AND INJURE LIKE A SWORD.
the commandments of men.' Though they
were
the teachers of the oracles of God,
though they were supposed to understand
His word, they were not doers of the word.
Satan had blinded their eyes, that they
should not see its true import.
"This is the work of many in our day.
Many churches are guilty of this sin. There
is danger, great danger, that the supposed
wise men of today will repeat the experi-
ence of the Jewish teachers. They falsely
interpret the divine oracles, and souls are
brought into perplexity and ,shrouded in
darkness because of their misconception of
divine truth."—Christ's
Object Lessons,
pages 110, 111.
6.
What had they substituted for
the commandments of God? Mark
7:8, 9.
NoTE.—"Every human invention that has
been substituted for the commandments of
God will be found worthless in that day
when 'God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be evil.' Eccl.
12:14.
"The substitution of the precepts of men
for the commandments of God has not
ceased. Even among Christians are found
institutions and usages that have no better
foundation than the traditions of the fa-
thers. Such institutions, resting upon mere
human authority, have supplanted those of
divine appointment. Men cling to their tra-
ditions, and revere their customs, and
cherish hatred against those who seek to
show them their error."—The
Desire of
Ages,
page 398.
7.
As an example, what Pharisai-
cal evasion did Jesus cite? Mark 7:
10-13.
NoTE.—"All the loved boastful, preten-
tious worship and outward practice on
which they rested, were of no value com-
pared with the great eternal commands
of God, and were even crimes and impiety,
when they proudly set themselves in their
room. He arraigned Pharisaism, the domi-
nant orthodoxy, as a whole. The system, so
famous, so arrogant, so intensely Jewish,
was only an invention of man; a subver-
sion of the law it claimed to represent, an
antagonism to the prophets as well as to
Moses, the spiritual ruin of the nation I"—
Geikie,
The Life and Words of Christ, vol.
2, pp. 210, 211 (ch. 44).
Causes of Soul Defilement
8.
According to the teaching of
Christ, what is it that defiles a man?
Matt. 15:10, 11.
NOTE.—"The root error of the Pharisees
was externalism. The prim propriety of
demeanor which characterized the profes-
sional saints of Jerusalem covered hearts
as corrupt as any of the publicans' and sin-
ners'. Yet the Pharisees thought themselves
clean. They dreaded contact with a corpse,
but they had little scruple in entertaining
a corrupt thought. They would stop their
ears at the sound of blasphemy, but they
would give the reins to their tongues in
malignant words. The evil of Pharisaism is
by no means extinct today. Religious people
dread to be found in association with
questionable characters. They are anxious
to be perfectly correct in the external ob-
servances of worship. They do not go to
the extreme of the folly of the Pharisees,
but they too often manifest the same spirit."
—Pulpit Commentary,
on Matt. 15:11.
[421
9.
How did Jesus further warn
against the offended Pharisees? Matt.
15:12-14.
10.
What fuller explanation did
Jesus make •to His disciples? Matt.
15:15-20.
NorE.—"Evidently the Lord's disciples
had not wholly divested themselves of their
old reverence for the rabbinical system, and
for the received teachers of the nation, the
Pharisees. They were troubled at their in-
creasing hostility; perhaps they were in
their hearts somewhat vexed with the Lord
Himself; His words, it may be, seemed to
them so stern, so needlessly strong. They
apprehended difficulties, dangers; they
feared for their Master and for themselves.
And now they came to Him privately, into
the house (Mark 7:17) ; they hinted at their
anxieties; they sought to know what He
would do. We must always come to
Christ in our troubles; but we must trust
Him and yield up our wills to Him; He
doeth all things well. 2. The answer. (1)
The teaching of the Pharisees was not of
God; it came from human tradition or
from their own evil hearts. And all that
is not of God must perish. The whole sys-
tem of rabbinical teaching must pass away.
It had wrought itself into the very nature
of the Pharisees, as the good seed in the
parable had filled the heart and determined
the character of the true disciples. That
system must perish, and its professors, alas!
with it, if they would not receive the love
of the truth, that they might be saved. (2)
`Let them alone,' the Lord
said."—Pulpit
Commentary,
on Matthew 15.
11.
Unto what did Christ liken the
Pharisees? Matt. 23:25-28.
Internal Cleansing Required
12.
How did Jesus further indicate
that a heart work is needed? Luke
6:45.
NoTE.—"The Jews were so exacting in
regard to ceremonial purity that their regu-
lations were extremely burdensome. Their
minds were occupied with rules and re-
strictions and the fear of outward defile-
ment, and they did not perceive the stain
that selfishness and malice impart to the
soul.
"Jesus does not mention this ceremonial
purity as one of the conditions of entering
into His kingdom, but points out the need
of purity of heart. The wisdom that is
from above is 'first pure.' Into the City
of God there will enter nothing that defiles.
All who are to be dwellers there, will here
have become pure in heart. In one who is
learning of Jesus, there will be manifest a
growing distaste for careless manners, un-
seemly language, and coarse thought. When
Christ abides in the heart, there will be
purity and refinement of thought and man-
ner."—Thoughts From the Mount of Bless-
ing,
page 42.
13.
How is this thought expressed
in the book of Hebrews? Heb. 10:
16, 22.
NoTE.—"If our hearts are renewed in the
likeness of God, if the divine love is im-
planted in the soul, will not the law of God
be carried out in the life? When the prin-
ciple of love is implanted in the heart, when
man is renewed after the image of Him
that created him, the new-covenant prom-
ise is fulfilled,
will put My laws into
their hearts, and in their minds will I write
them.' And if the law is written in the
heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience
—the service and allegiance of love—is the
true sign of discipleship."—Steps
to Christ,
page 65.
"The priest used cedar and hyssop, dip-
ping them into the cleansing water and
sprinkling the unclean. This symbolized
the blood of Christ spilled to cleanse us
from moral impurities. The repeated sprink-
lings illustrate the thoroughness of the
work that must be accomplished for the
repenting sinner. All that he has must be
consecrated. Not only should his own
soul be washed clean and pure, but he
should strive to have his family, his do-
mestic arrangements, his property, and his
entire belongings consecrated to God."—
Testintonies,
vol. 4, p. 122.
[ 43 I
14. For what did the psalmist
pray? Ps. 51:10; 19:14.
NoTE.-" 'Keep thy heart with all dili-
gence,' is the counsel of the wise man; 'for
out of it are the issues of life.' As man
`thinketh in his heart, so is he.' The heart
must be renewed by divine grace, or it
will be in vain to seek for purity of life.
He who attempts to build up a noble, vir-
tuous character independent of the grace
of Christ, is building his house upon the
shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temp-
tation it will surely be overthrown. Da-
vid's prayer should be the petition of every
soul: 'Create in me a clean heart,
0
God;
and renew a right spirit within me.'
"-
Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 460.
Lesson 13, for September 29, 1956
The Great Confession Confirmed
"LESSON SCRIPTURES:
Matt. 16:13-28;
17:1-8;
Luke 9:18-36.
MEMORY VERSE:
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Mark 8:36, 37.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," pages
410-425;
Sabbath School Lesson Helps
in "Review and Herald" of September 13; "The Seventh-day Adventist, Bible
Commentary," volume 5.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD
Check Here
Sabbath afternoon: General survey.
❑
Sunday: Ques. 1-4.
❑
Monday: Ques. 5-8.
❑
Tuesday: Ques.
9-11.
❑
Wednesday: Ques. 12-14.
Thursday: Read Study Helps
assignment.
Friday
!
Review.
Check Here
0
0
Lesson Outline:
I. The Great Confession
1.
The popular view concerning Jesus.
Matt. 16:13, 14.
2.
The vital question. Matt. 16:15.
3.
Peter's answer. Matt. 16:16.
4.
A divine revelation. Matt. 16:17.
II. The Foundation of the Church
5.
Peter versus the rock Foundation
of the church. Matt. 16:18;
1 Cor. 3:11.
6.
The keys of the kingdom. Matt.
16:19; 18:17, 18.
7.
The fallibility of Peter. Matt.
16 :21-23.
8.
The Head of the church.
Eph.
1:20-23; 5:23.
III. The Cross and the Kingdom
9.
Necessity of self-denial. Matt.
16:24, 25.
10.
Christ, not the world, holds the
secret of life. Matt. 16:25, 26;
John 10:10.
11.
Promise of the kingdom. Matt.
16:27, 28.
IV. The Transfiguration
12.
A glorious experience. Matt.
17:1-4; Luke 9:28-31.
13.
Disciples' lack of comprehension.
Luke 9:32, 33.
14.
Assurance; Jesus only. Matt.
17:5, 8.
1
44]
THE LESSON
The Great Confession
1.
What was the popular view as
to whom Jesus might be? _ Matt. 16:
13, 14.`
Nom.—"Sadly the disciples were forced
to acknowledge that Israel had failed to
recognize their Messiah. Some indeed, when
they saw His miracles, had declared Him
to be the Son of David. The multitudes
that had been fed at Bethsaida had desired
to proclaim Him king of Israel. Many
were ready to accept Him as a prophet; but
they did not believe Him to be the Mes-
siah."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 411.
2.
What direct question did Jesus
put to His disciples? Matt. 16:15.
3.
What great confession did Peter
utter? Matt. 16:16.
4.
How had Peter arrived at his
conviction? Matt. 16:17.
Nom.—"The truth which Peter had con-
fessed is the foundation of the believer's
faith. It is that which Christ Himself has
declared to be eternal life. But the posses-
sion of this knowledge was no ground for
self-glorification. Through no wisdom or
goodness of his own had it been revealed
to Peter. Never can humanity, of itself,
attain to a knowledge of the divine. 'It is
as high 'as heaven; what canst thou do?
deeper than hell; what canst thou know?'
Job 11:8. Only the spirit of adoption can
reveal to us the deep things of God, which
`eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man.' God
hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the
deep things of God.' 1 Cor. 2:9, 10. 'The
secret of the Lord is with them that fear
Him;' and the fact that Peter discerned
the glory of Christ was an evidence that
he had been 'taught of God.' Ps. 25:14;
John 6:45. Ah, indeed, 'blessed art thou,
Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath
not revealed it unto thee.'
"—The Desire of
Ages,
page 412.
The Foundation of the Church
.
5.
Upon whom is the church
founded? Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:11.
Compare Eph.
2:20.
NOTE.—"The
word Peter in Greek is
Petros.
The point to be established by this
scripture is that Simon is named P-e-t-r-o-s.
He is never called by any other etymologi-
cal form of this word, though of course it
is subject to all the grammatical variations
common to all Greek nouns and names. He
is called by this name 161 times in the
Authorized Version of the New Testament,
and by no other name except Simon.
"Now the word
petros
is itself a mascu-
line derivative from the feminine parent-
word
petra.
The word
petra
denotes rock
as a substance, rock en masse, as embedded
in the everlasting hills, or as a huge boul-
der, or as a projecting ledge—in other
words, mother rock. It therefore becomes
a most fitting symbol of Christ, and is fre-
quently applied to Him directly through
.
-
out both Old and New Testaments, often
but not always written with a capital ini-
tial, Rock. Paul makes its use very clear in
1 Corinthians 10:4, in speaking of the
children of Israel during the Exodus: 'And
did all drink the same spiritual drink: for
they drank of that spiritual Rock that fol-
lowed them: and that
Rock
was
Christ.'
The Greek original for Rock in both in-
stances here is
petra.
What could be clearer
than that
petra
is Christ, and that Christ
is
petra
when spoken of by this symbol of
rock? . . .
"The reader may therefore be deeply
grateful that his hope is built on nothing
less than on 'Christ the solid Rock,' and
not on a rolling, movable fragment of
rock."—F. D. Nichol,
Answers to Objec-
tions,
1952 ed., pp. 851-853.
6.
What authority is represented by
the keys of the kingdom? Matt. 16:19;
18:17, 18.
[ 48 ]
NOTE.—" 'Verily I say unto you,' Christ
continued, 'whatsoever ye shall bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven: and what-
soever ye shall loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.' Matt. 18:18.
"This statement holds its force in all
ages. On the church has been conferred the
power to act in Christ's stead. It is God's
instrumentality for the preservation of
order and discipline among His people. To
it the Lard has delegated the power to
settle all questions respecting its prosperity,
purity, and order. Upon it rests the re-
sponsibility of excluding from its fellow-
ship those who are unworthy, who by their
un-Christlike conduct would bring dis-
honor on the truth. Whatever the church
does that is in accordance with the direc-
tions given in God's word will be ratified
in
heaven."—Testimonies, vol. 7,
p. 263.
7. How did Peter soon reveal his
lack of insight and his fallibility?
Matt. 16:21-23. Compare Luke 22:
31, 32.
NorE.—"Peter was not the rock upon
which the church was founded. The gates
of hell did prevail against him when he
denied his Lord with cursing and swearing.
The church was built upon One against
whom the gates of hell could not prevail."
—The Desire of Ages,
page 413.
8.
Who only is declared to be the
Head of the church? Eph. 1:20-23;
5:23.
The Cross and the Kingdom
9.
In what words did Jesus reveal
the necessity of self-denial in relation
to His kingdom? Matt. 16:24, 25.
NOTE.—"Trial is part of the education
given in the school of Christ, to purify
God's children from the dross of earthli-
ness. It is because God is leading His chil-
dren, that trying experiences come to them.
Trials and obstacles are His chosen meth-
ods of discipline, and His appointed condi-
tions of success. He who reads the hearts
of men knows their weaknesses better than
they themselves can know them. He sees
that some have qualifications which, if
rightly directed, could be used in the ad-
vancement of His work. In His providence
He brings these souls into different positions
and varied circumstances, that they may
discover the defects that are concealed
from their own knowledge. He gives them
opportunity to overcome these defects, and
to fit themselves for service. Often He per-
mits the fires of affliction to burn, that
they may be purified."—The
Acts of the
Apostles,
page 524.
10.
How does Christ show that He
and not the world holds the secret of
life? Matt. 16:26; John 10:10.
11.
What assurance did Jesus give
to some of His disciples? Matt. 16:
27, 28.
The Transfiguration
12.
What glorious opportunity
came to three of the disciples about
a week later? Matt. 17:1-4; Luke 9:
28-31.
46 ]
13. What indicates that these disci-
ples did not fully comprehend the sig-
nificance of this experience? Luke 9:
32, 33.
NoTE.-"The disciples do not yet com-
prehend the scene; but they rejoice that
the patient Teacher, the meek and lowly
One, who has wandered to and fro a help-
less stranger, is honored by the favored
ones of heaven. They believe that Elijah
has come to announce the Messiah's reign,
and that the kingdom of Christ' is about to
be set up on the earth. The memory of
their fear and disappointment they would
banish forever. Here, where the glory of
God is revealed, they long to tarry. Peter
exclaims, 'Master, it is good for us to be
here: and let us make three tabernacles;
one for Thee, and one for *Moses, and one
for Elias.' The disciples are confident that
Moses and Elijah have been sent to pro-
tect their Master, and to establish His
authority as king.
"But before the crown must come the
cross. Not the inauguration of Christ as
king, but the decease to be accomplished at
Jerusalem, is the subject of their conference
with Jesus."-The
Desire of Ages,
page 422.
14. How were the disciples assured,
and, when the celestial glory faded,
whom only did they see? Matt. 17:
5, 8. Compare 2 Cor. 3:18.
NoTE.-"They saw with their eyes and
heard with their ears things that were be-
yond the comprehension of man. They
were 'eyewitnesses of His majesty' (2 Peter
1:16), and they realized that Jesus was in-
deed the Messiah, to whom patriarchs and
prophets had witnessed, and that He was
recognized as such by the heavenly uni-
verse."-The
Desire of Ages,
page 425.
THIRTEENTH SABBATH OFFERING
September 29, 1956
The overflow of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on September
29
goes to the Inter-American Division to help build (t) a modest hospital
at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, (2) a library and theological workshop area
for the Antillian Junior College, (3) dormitories for the Navajoa
(Mexico) school. Our work is progressing more rapidly in the Inter-
American Division than in almost any other part of the world field.
This very fact lays a greater responsibility upon those in the homelands
to provide the necessary equipment to make the work of the laborers in
that great field more effective.
LESSONS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER, 1956
Sabbath-school members who have failed to receive a senior
Lesson Quarterly
for the fourth quarter of 1956 will be helped by the following outline in studying
the first lesson. The subject of the quarter's lesson is "Lessons From the Life of
Christ-H." The title of the first lesson is, "Vital Christian Principles Set Forth."
The Memory Verse is Luke 10:27. The texts to be studied are:
Ques. 1. John 7:14-17.
Ques. 2. John 7:37-39.
Ques. 3. John 7:32, 45-53.
Ques. 4. John 8:2, 3.
Ques. 5. John 8:4-6.
Ques. 6. John 8 : 7-9.
Ques. 7. John 8:10, 11.
Ques. 8. Luke 10:1-9.
Ques. 9. Luke 10:12-16.
Ques. 10. Luke 10:17-19.
Ques. 11. Luke 10:20, 21.
Ques. 12. Luke 10:25-29.
Ques. 13. Luke 10:30-32.
f 47 3
MEXICO, CUBA, CARIBBEAN UNION
(INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION)
Union
Pep
citl• rl
'
rers
S
t=
r.lhas
ANTILUAN
BRITISH WEST INDIES
CARIBBEAN
CENTRAL AMERICAN
COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA
MEXICAN
DIVISION TOTALS
Duna 30, 19551
11,630,804
193
22,957
33,180
1,531,154
287
23,585
25,247
2,813,830
224
21,232
23,823
9434,214
145
10,688
12,326
17,651,032
65
7,983
10,323
28,053,000
183
18,227
33,051
71,314,034
1,097
104,672
137,950
OST. MARTIN
4
4BARBUDA
St
KITTS
NEVIS
ANTIGUA
MONTSERRAT
6
GUADELOUPE
*MARIE GALANTE
1ODOMINICA
\
• CIUDAD OBREG611
\PR AVOJOA
•
HERMOSILLO
PETER,.
MOIALIOULOS
GULF OF MEXICO
MARTINIQUE
CARIBBEAN UNION
OST. LUCIA
BARBADOS
ST. VINCENT
BRIDCETOW4
NAVOJOA
SCHOOL
•
GUADALAJARA
.'"ICO T
•IU
F
RLY
A
BELIZE
NDURAS
•
GR NADA
41
------
.viLualitmOsA i
CUBA
r7;\
MEXICO
TAMPICO
WMVICALI
••••
POZT-DT.FRAH
TWA •
TIARA GUTIERREZ •
1
r
GVATEMALA
"
El 1.
440 IR
•
MO
M0
5
